Cessna 150H accident near Charlotte, Michigan, January 8, 1986
On January 8, 1986 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50255, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlotte, Michigan. It was an instructional 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 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
- January 8, 1986 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Charlotte, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50255 · registry record · serial 15069170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS PERFORMING A PRACTICE APPROACH TO AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A FROZEN, SNOW COVERED LAKE. AFTER HE HAD FLOWN TO AN ALTITUDE LOW OVER THE LAKE THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A RIDGE OF SNOW AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE LAKE. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT SOONER. HE ALSO STATED THAT HAD THE APPROACH BEEN FLOWN CLOSER TO THE EDGE OF THE LAKE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JUDGE HIS HEIGHT ABOVE THE SNOW BETTER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,554 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1985; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07G Charlotte MI at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.