CHI98LA336

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150F · Eaton Rapids, MI · September 7, 1998

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

OverrunTakeoff - aborted
Aborted takeoff - performedPilot in commandCause
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause
All available runway - exceededPilot in commandCause
Nose overTakeoff - aborted
Terrain condition - cropFactor

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.