The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CHI85LA308 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 150M accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan, July 22, 1985

On July 22, 1985 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N6350K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt Pleasant, Michigan (Mt Pleasant Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 22, 1985 · about 3:30 pm local time
Place
Mt Pleasant, Michigan · Mt Pleasant Muni · 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
N6350K · no longer on the register · serial 15077659
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT BETWEEN MAPLE GROVE ARPT & HOUGHTON LAKE ARPT. DURING THE FLT, THE PLT REQUESTED RADAR ASSISTANCE TO LOCATE HOUGHTON LAKE. DUE TO HER SOLO STUDENT STATUS & THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF MT PLEASANT ARPT, SHE WAS ADVISED TO LAND THERE. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 27 AT MT PLEASANT, SHE PULLED THE MIXTURE KNOB BY MISTAKE & STARVED THE ENG OF FUEL. THIS RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD APRX 200 FT SHORT OF THE PAVED SURFACE OF THE RWY. THE TERRAIN AT THAT POINT WAS ROUGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PLANE TO NOSE 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: student
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 12 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1985; 6 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: 65G Fowlerville MI at 1:10 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 3,900 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.