Cessna 150E accident near Muskegon, Michigan, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N4072U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muskegon, Michigan (Fruitport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 20, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Muskegon, Michigan · Fruitport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N4072U · no longer on the register · serial 15061472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT ABOUT THE MIDPOINT OF THE RWY & CLIMBED TO JUST ABOVE TREETOP LEVEL. HE TURNED THE ACFT SLIGHTLY INTO THE WIND, THEN NOTED THAT IT SEEM TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO CLIMB FURTHER. THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED & THE PLT NOTED A TREE AHEAD, SO HE BANKED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND. DRG IMPACT, THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED SERIOUS FACIAL, CHEST & INTERNAL INJURIES. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES.
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: 199 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,585 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MKG, 7 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.
Other NTSB records under N4072U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.