Cessna 150M accident near Canton, Michigan, February 25, 1993
On February 25, 1993 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9297U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canton, 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1993 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Canton, 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 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9297U · registry record · serial 15078247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK. HE BELIEVES THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS CAUSED BY THE FRACTURE OF THE STEERING ARM ROD END BOLT. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURED ROD END DISCLOSED THE FRACTURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OVERLOAD IN TENSION, AND THAT THERE WAS NO PREEXISTING ANOMALY OR FATIGUE EVIDENT IN THE ROD END. EXCESS TENSION ON THE ROD END CAN RESULT IF THE NOSEWHEEL IS FORCED BEYOND THE LIMITS OF ITS NORMAL TRAVEL. FAA INSPECTORS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE OBSERVED WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS NOSEWHEEL SCRUB MARKS ON THE RUNWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.
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: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,281 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 9, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Emerald Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from YIP, 8 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.