Cessna 150J accident near South Haven, Michigan, November 24, 2006
On November 24, 2006 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N61235, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Haven, Michigan (South Haven Regional 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing. Factors were the crosswind and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2006 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- South Haven, Michigan · South Haven Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N61235 · no longer on the register · serial 15070908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during landing when it departed the runway surface and nosed over in a ditch. The pilot reported that he attempted a landing in which he executed a go-around. He reported that during the second landing attempt the airplane touched down and veered to the left. The airplane subsequently went off the runway and into a ditch along the side of the runway. The airplane nosed over in the ditch. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with regard to the airplane. The recorded winds about 15 minutes prior to the accident were 160 degrees at 10 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 22.
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: 82 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,858 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 2006
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPK Charlotte MI at 4:10 pm
- Destination: LWA South Haven MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from LWA
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.