Cessna 150K accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, June 19, 1997
On June 19, 1997 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5738G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run 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
the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor ice, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Factors relating to this accident were: the icing (weather) condition and sign(s) in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1997 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5738G · no longer on the register · serial 15071238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he was on final approach at reduced power when the engine began to run rough. He 'began to add power, but there was no response from the engine. [I] began an engine restart after the engine quit and I saw that I would be short of the runway. [The] restart was unsuccessful.' The pilot elected to land in a parking lot near the airport. During the landing, the airplane 'hit a rut which threw the airplane to the left and struck [two] signs.' The airplane then rolled to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that the carburetor heat knob was in the 'off' position. No other anomalies were found. The temperature and dew point were 62 and 54 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive for carburetor icing.
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: 211 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,672 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1996; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZO Kalamazoo MI at 11:20 am
- Destination: YIP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9L, 7,294 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:30 pm from YIP, 1 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.