Cessna 150M accident near Allegan, Michigan, December 31, 2000
On December 31, 2000 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63276, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allegan, Michigan (Padgham Field). 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 proper glide path not maintained by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the deep snow.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2000 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Allegan, Michigan · Padgham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63276 · no longer on the register · serial 15077224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While practicing a short-field landing the aircraft landed 300-feet short of the runway in deep snow causing the aircraft to nose-over. The pilot reported, "Approximately 300 feet out [from the approach end of runway 28] I experienced a loss of power, and the plane dropped. Low altitude at the time of the accident allowed for little reaction time. I did, however, pull back on the yoke to keep the nose up. The plane touched down in deep snow, mains first, and stopped immediately causing it to flip forward onto nose. It then skidded a short distance, then flipped on over to rest on its top." Postaccident investigation of the aircraft, including its flight control systems, did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident investigation of the aircraft engine and its accessories did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 652 hours in all; 550 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,233.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2000; 21.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Paw Paw MI at 1:40 pm
- Destination: 35D Allegan MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,498 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from AZO, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.