- Date
- September 7, 1998, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place
- Eaton Rapids, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6759FCessna 150F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980907022809A
- Case key
- 43855
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 improper decision to abort the takeoff while in the air and beyond the point where the pilot could execute a landing on the remaining airstrip runway area. A factor which contributed to this accident was the soybean crop.
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 said that he lifted off and was approximately 100 feet above the ground when he experienced a crosswind. The pilot straightened the airplane out and elected to land on the remaining runway. The pilot reduced power and touched down at the departure end of the runway. The airplane went into a bean field. The pilot said that he tried to keep the nose up as long as possible, but the next thing he knew, he was upside-down. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On September 7, 1998, at 1625 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 150F, N6759F, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when just airborne on initial takeoff, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff and land. Subsequent to the aborted takeoff, the airplane went off of the end of the runway, through the overrun area, and into a soybean field, where it nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight was originating at Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
In his written statement, the pilot said that he lifted off and was approximately 100 feet above the ground when he experienced a crosswind. The pilot straightened the airplane out and elected to land on the remaining runway. The pilot reduced power and touched down at the departure end of the runway. The airplane went into a bean field. The pilot said that he tried to keep the nose up as long as possible, but the next thing he knew, he was upside-down.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the Skyway Estates Airport, Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Tire marks, consistent with the airplane's main tires, were observed beginning 20 feet prior to the displaced threshold, and continuing for approximately 200 feet into the soybean field. A third set of tire marks, consistent with the airplane's nose wheel, began in the soybean field and went for 150 feet. At the end of the wheel marks was an impression in the soybeans consistent with the wings and fuselage of the airplane. The impression was oriented on a 080 magnetic heading.
The airplane's left wing tip leading edge was crushed. The left wing aft spar was buckled just behind the left wing fuel tank. The right wing top leading edge, forward of the right wing fuel tank, was dented inward. The lower engine cowling was crushed upward and aft. The nose wheel and lower portion of the firewall were bent aft. The top of vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent over. Both propeller blades were bent aft and showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. The spinner was crushed up and inward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls, or other airplane systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6759F
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15063359
- Airframe hours
- 3,370
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Percy H. Watson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 16, 1998 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- 60G
- Airport
- 60G · Skyway Estates, runway 26, 2,653 × 100 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
- 55
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 128 total · 45 in this make and model · 17 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAN, 12 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.