Cessna 150H accident near Mecosta, Michigan, July 13, 2002
On July 13, 2002 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N6912S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mecosta, Michigan (Mecosta airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane encountered unsuitable terrain and the pilot applied excessive braking during the aborted takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the sandy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2002 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mecosta, Michigan · Mecosta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6912S · no longer on the register · serial 15067612
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff. The pilot stated that he was using a short field takeoff procedure versus a soft field due to the trees off the end of the airstrip. He reported that during the takeoff the airplane contacted a bump in the terrain and became prematurely airborne. The pilot stated that he did not have sufficient flying speed to continue the departure and he lowered the nose in an attempt to increase airspeed. According to the pilot, he was not sure if he would be able to clear the trees at the end of the runway so he decided to abort the takeoff. He stated that he reduced the power to idle, the aircraft bounced once on the ground, and he applied hard braking. The pilot reported that the nose gear collapsed when it dug into the sandy terrain and the aircraft nosed over. Inspection of the accident site revealed the airplane was approximately one half way down the airstrip when it nosed over.
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: 184 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,591.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2002; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 27C Mecosta MI at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 3FM Fremont MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,010 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from RQB, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.