- Date
- September 5, 1998, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Cadillac, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3031JCessna 150E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980905022739A
- Case key
- 43842
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 pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind condition which resulted in landing on the wrong runway. A factor associated with the accident was the tailwind.
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 pilot reported that while he was on downwind for landing on runway 25 when he noticed the windsock and tetrahedron were favoring runway 36. He then decided to land on runway 36. He reported that he encountered a tailwind during the landing so he put the airplane into a 'sharp slide' which resulted in the main gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over. Local winds reported 10 minutes prior to the accident were from 250 degrees at 12 knots. The winds reported 10 minutes after the accident were from 270 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Factual narrative
On September 5, 1998, at 1710 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N3031J, operated by a private pilot nosed over during a landing roll at the Wexford County Airport, Cadillac, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Cadillac, Michigan, approximately one hour prior to the accident.
The pilot reported that while he was on downwind for landing on runway 25 when he noticed the windsock and tetrahedron were favoring runway 36. He then changed his traffic pattern and made a landing approach to runway 36. He reported that the landing was "good", but the wind "... came in behind and started pushing me down runway." He reported he put the airplane in a "...sharp slide..." during which time the main gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over.
The landing was made on runway 36 (2,005' x 150', grass). The winds reported at the Wexford County Airport at 1700 edt were from 250 degrees at 12 knots. The winds reported at 1720 edt were from 270 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots. The airport manager reported the local AWOS is broadcast over the frequency used by the NDB which is located on the airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3031J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15061131
- Airframe hours
- 3,514
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hennry B. Johnson, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1998 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- CAD
- Destination
- CAD
- Airport
- CAD · Wexford County, runway 36, 2,005 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 492 total · 492 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CAD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3031J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.