Cessna 150L accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 4:08 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1528Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Springs, Michigan (North Cedar Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate glidepath and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. A factor to the accident was the semi-trailer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Springs, Michigan · North Cedar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1528Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a truck while on final approach. The pilot reported that he had communicated several times with airport representatives concerning the condition of the turf runway. The pilot was told that the west half of the east/west runway, approximately 1,350 feet, was in a serviceable condition. The remaining east half of the runway was not serviceable due to wet/soft runway conditions. The pilot stated he was attempting a short field landing when the airplane impacted the 11-foot high semi-trailer, which was traveling northbound on a county road that runs adjacent to the airport property. The aircraft subsequently impacted the runway surface approximately 21 feet past the runway threshold, or about 50 feet from the eastern edge of the county road. The runway threshold was approximately 29 feet from the eastern edge of the north/south two-lane road. The road edge was approximately 4 feet above the threshold elevation. An airplane flying a 3-degree glideslope would contact the road prior to reaching the runway threshold. A 28-degree glideslope is necessary to clear an 11-foot obstacle positioned at the eastern edge of the road. The runway arrangement, without a displaced threshold, does not allow for vehicular traffic on the adjacent two-lane county road or for the elevation difference between the runway threshold and the road. As a private use airport, MI73 is not required to comply with FAA or state regulations concerning airport obstacle clearance standards.
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; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,733 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,682 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,655 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 2003; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8D4 Sparta MI at 4:00 pm
- Destination: MI73 Cedar Springs MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from GRR, 23 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.