# NTSB CHI98LA265: Cessna 150J, N50930, Ironwood, MI, July 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 1998, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Ironwood, MI - Coordinates: 46.450675, -90.149436 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4507&lon=-90.1494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43095/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA265 ## Probable cause the pilot's not compensating for wind conditions and his allowing an inadvertent stall. A factor was wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane was landing on runway 27. The recorded winds were 260 at 17 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The airplane was observed to nose up and then the right wing came up and the airplane descended into the terrain. The pilot told officials that he did not compensate for gusts and the airplane entered an inadvertent stall. He said he initiated a recovery, but was unable to regain control prior to impact with the terrain. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 1998, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N50930, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage while attempting to land on runway 27 (6,501' X 150' dry/asphalt), at Gogebic-Iron County Airport, near Ironwood, Michigan. The pilot received serious injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Cumberland, Wisconsin, at 1030. Witnesses said that the airplane was attempting to land on runway 27. They said that the prevailing wind at the time of the accident was gusting. They estimated the airplane was about 40 to 50 feet above they observed the nose of the airplane to rise and then the right wing to go up. They heard an application of power just prior to impact with the terrain. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that he was slow in reacting to the wind gust and the airplane stalled. He said he applied full power, but was unable to recover prior to impact with the terrain. The pilot did not indicate that there were any mechanical problems with the airplane. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident confirmed continuity of the flight and engine controls. No pre-accident anomalies were found during the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50930](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50930-1998-10-30), registration cancelled 1998-10-30, S/N 15069652 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069652 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert W. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: UBE, CUMBERLAND, WI - Destination: IWD - Airport: IWD, Gogebic-Iron County, runway 27, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 17 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IWD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980721016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980721016799A), Jul 21, 1998: Cessna 150J, Ironwood, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot flared high-stalled aircraft and lost directional control-gusty wind may have contributed to accident. ## Other investigations on N50930 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MKC71FDM53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71FDM53), Apr 5, 1971: Cessna 150J (N50930), St Paul, MN, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.