Cessna 150L accident near Ludington, Michigan, September 3, 1987
On September 3, 1987 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N7502G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ludington, Michigan (Mason County 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
- September 3, 1987 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ludington, Michigan · Mason County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7502G · registry record · serial 15074672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT RPRTD THE TAKEOFF ROLL SEEMED NORMAL UNTILROTATION, BUT WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL LIFTED OFF THE RWY, THE ACFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT. HE STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BY 'USING RIGHT RUDDER OR TAPPING THE RIGHT BRAKE,' SO HE REDUCED THE POWER TO 'FULLY OFF AND TRIED TO RIDE HER OUT ON THE GRASS.' HOWEVER, WHEN THE ACFT CROSSED A SHALLOW DITCH, THE PROP CONTACTED THE GND & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. TIRE MARKS WERE FND ON THE RWY FOR ABOUT 500', THEN THEY CONTD FOR APRX ANOTHER 200' UNTIL THE ACFT NOSED OVER. A POST ACDNT INSPN REVEALED THE BRAKES & WHEELS WERE IN SERVICEABLE COND. ALSO, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS OFF & THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PLT RPRTD A QUARTERING X-WIND FM THE NORTHWEST AT 7 KTS.
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
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,251 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1986; 20 hours since
- 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 36, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from TVC, 59 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.