Cessna 150H accident near Plainwell, Michigan, February 18, 1990
On February 18, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50003, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainwell, Michigan (Otsego-Plainwell Muni airport). It was a personal 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
FOREIGN OBJECT (ICE), WHICH JAMMED THE RIGHT WHEEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SNOWBANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plainwell, Michigan · Otsego-Plainwell Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50003 · no longer on the register · serial 15069000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/OWNER REPORTED THAT, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF ON AN ICE COVERED RUNWAY WITH A DIRECT CROSSWIND, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN/REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A SNOWBANK AND NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT DISCOVERED A PIECE OF ICE WEDGED INSIDE THE WHEELPANT OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHICH HE BELIEVED 'SEIZED THE WHEEL.'
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: 290 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1989; 51 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: 61D at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 07G Charlotte MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from AZO, 14 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.