Cessna 150 accident near Plymouth, Michigan, October 11, 1990
On October 11, 1990 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N45328, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Michigan (Mettetal-Canton 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1990 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Michigan · Mettetal-Canton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N45328 · registry record · serial 15076846
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ON HIS THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PILOT STATES THE LEFT WING LIFTED AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, HE OVERCOMPENSATED AND ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT, SKIDDED SIDEWAYS ON A WET TURF INFIELD AND NOSED OVER AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER THE SKID.
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: 23 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1D2 at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from YIP
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.