- Date
- December 14, 1997, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hillsdale, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N23239Cessna 150H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971214042709A
- Case key
- 10809
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain. Contributing were icy conditions on the runway and a snowbank.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The solo student pilot stated that she was unable to maintain directional control on the takeoff roll due to ice on the runway. She indicated that the airplane then contacted a snowbank along the edge of the runway. An inspection revealed that there was icy conditions prevailing on the runway surface and that there was a snowbank along the edge of the runway. An examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-existing anomalies.
Factual narrative
On December 14, 1997, at 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150H, N23239, sustained substantial damage during a takeoff from runway 28 (4,000' X 75' ice covered/asphalt), at Hillside Municipal Airport, near Hillside, Michigan. The solo student pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time with the stated destination of Lansing, Michigan.
In the solo student's written statement she stated, "I must have gotten onto the ice because applying right rudder did not correct the situation... ." She said that the airplane continued until it impacted a snowbank at the edge of the runway.
An inspector's observation confirmed an accumulation of ice on the runway and a snowbank along the edge of the runway. No mechanical anomalies were found in the airplane which could not be attributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23239
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15068819
- Airframe hours
- 3,437
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Claire D. Batt
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1997 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- JYM
- Destination
- LAN · Lansing, MI
- Airport
- JYM · Hillsdale Municipal, runway 28, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 50 total · 50 in this make and model · 17 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JXN, 22 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.