Cessna 150F accident near North Pole, Alaska, October 1, 2010
On October 1, 2010 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N3569L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near North Pole, Alaska (Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The overstress separation of the left nose wheel steering linkage rod end during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2010 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3569L · no longer on the register · serial 15062369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, about 50 miles per hour, the airplane swerved left. He stated that the nose wheel dug into the dirt runway during the swerve, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left nose wheel steering linkage rod end was fractured. Magnified optical examination of the linkage fracture surfaces and surrounding area revealed fracture features and deformation patterns consistent with a bending overstress separation. No indication of preexisting cracking, such as fatigue or corrosion, was noted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear attach section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,057 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2010; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95Z North Pole AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 95Z North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.