Cessna 150 L accident near Eureka, Michigan, May 16, 1989
On May 16, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150 L, registered N7531G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka, Michigan (Randolph airport). 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
STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE SUBSEQUENT ABORTED TAKEOFF WAS PERFORMED WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO SUCCESSFULLY STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1989 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka, Michigan · Randolph
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 L · all 150 Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7531G · no longer on the register · serial 15074689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRE-CHECKRIDE REVIEW FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO DEMONSTRATE A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ON A 1,640' X 100' SOD AIRSTRIP. THE STUDENT PILOT STARTED TO ROTATE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 55 MPH AND AN ESTIMATED 3/4 WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND WAS ADVISED BY THE CFI TO WAIT UNTIL 60 MPH WAS ATTAINED BEFORE ROTATION. THE STUDENT PILOT RESPONDED BY ABORTING THE TAKEOFF, REDUCING POWER AND APPLYING BRAKES. THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND APPLIED 'HARD' BRAKES, HOWEVER NEITHER PILOT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,237 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 18, 1989; 47 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: 61G Eureka MI at 3:15 pm
- Destination: LAN Lansing MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from LAN, 20 miles away
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.