Cessna 150A accident near Grant, Michigan, February 23, 1995
On February 23, 1995 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150A, registered N7127X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grant, Michigan (Grant 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 decision to intentionally land downwind and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. The pilot's lack of experience and the tailwind were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1995 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grant, Michigan · Grant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150A · all 150As on the register
- Registration
- N7127X · no longer on the register · serial 15059227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT, THEN A SNOWBANK AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED-OVER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ALONG THE NORTH EDGE OF THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY 9 THRESHOLD. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD SIX HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME AND HIS STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT. HE WAS NOT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 6 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8D4 Sparta MI at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,530 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GRR, 30 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.