Cessna 150H accident near Bellaire, Michigan, June 15, 2007
On June 15, 2007 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23117, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bellaire, Michigan (Antrim County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the deer fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2007 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bellaire, Michigan · Antrim County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23117 · registry record · serial 15068736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a deer fence and terrain during an approach to landing on runway 20 (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). Turning base to final, the pilot noticed the airplane was low and appeared to be sinking too quickly. The pilot tried to increase engine power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane struck a 10 to 12 foot high deer fence surrounding the airport and the aircraft subsequently impacted terrain. A post-accident inspection of the airplane and engine revealed no preexisting anomalies. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident was conducive to severe carburetor icing at descent power settings. Temperature was 28 degrees C, dewpoint was 16 degrees C. The pilot reporting using carburetor heat during the approach to landing.
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: 90 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,527.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental 0-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y70 Ionia MI at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Bellaire MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:59 pm from KACB
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.