Cessna 150E accident near Grayling, Michigan, October 13, 1989
On October 13, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N3905U, was destroyed in an accident near Grayling, Michigan (Grayling Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grayling, Michigan · Grayling Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3905U · no longer on the register · serial 15061305
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN TO LIFTOFF AND FLY DOWN THE RUNWAY IN GROUND EFFECT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A NEAR VERTICAL CLIMB. DURING THE CLIMB, THE AIRCRAFT FELL OFF TO THE LEFT AND DESCENDED TO TERRAIN IMPACT BETWEEN THE TAXIWAY AND RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. NO PHYSICAL CONDITION WAS FOUND WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FNT Flint MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from HTL, 20 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.