Cessna 150H accident near Hopkins, Michigan, March 7, 1987
On March 7, 1987 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22793, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hopkins, Michigan. 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
- March 7, 1987 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hopkins, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22793 · no longer on the register · serial 15068519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT 'EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL' ON DOWNWIND AND BASE, BUT THAT HE EXPERIENCED ROUGH AIR AND 'SIDE TO SIDE MOTION' OF THE ACFT ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 27. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HELD AN AIRSPEED OF 70 MPH WITH 'SOME POWER' UNTIL HE HAD THE RWY 'MADE.' THE PLT STATED THAT HE THEN THROTTLED BACK AND WAS ABOUT 50-60 FEET AGL IN A NORMAL LANDING ATTITUDE WHEN THE ACFT DROPPED 'PROBABLY 25-30 FEET IN A SECOND.' ACCORDING TO THE PLT, A GO-AROUND WAS IMMEDIATELY INITIATED, BUT BEFORE HE COULD RETRACT THE FLAPS THE ACFT GAINED APRX 25-30 FEET AND THE ACFT HEADED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RWY, TOWARD A SMALL POPLAR TREE. THE PLT STATED THAT WITHIN TWO SECONDS THE PROP STRUCK THE TOP OF THE TREE AND HE THEN NOSED THE ACFT DOWN IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN AIRSPEED AND LAND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WING AND NOSE BEFORE COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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: 178 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,977 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from GRR, 18 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.
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.