Cessna 150H accident near Three Rivers, Michigan, June 21, 1992
On June 21, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22120, was substantially damaged in an accident near Three Rivers, Michigan. It was a personal 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
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF A ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION MAKING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Three Rivers, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22120 · registry record · serial 15068073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE FLIGHT, THE LEFT DOOR OPENED. THE PILOT CLOSED THE DOOR, HOWEVER A FEW SECONDS LATER THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND BOTH DOORS OPENED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLOSE BOTH DOORS, HOWEVER A BANGING SOUND CONTINUED. THE PILOT REPORTED CHECKING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WHICH HE FOUND INSIDE. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE CHOSE AS A LANDING SITE, A ROUGH/UNEVEN PLOWED FIELD. ON ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,009 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 1992; 95 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: IRS Sturgis MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SBN, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.