Cessna 150E accident near Cadillac, Michigan, September 5, 1998
On September 5, 1998 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N3031J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cadillac, Michigan (Wexford County airport). 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's inadequate evaluation of the wind condition which resulted in landing on the wrong runway. A factor associated with the accident was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1998 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cadillac, Michigan · Wexford County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3031J · no longer on the register · serial 15061131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while he was on downwind for landing on runway 25 when he noticed the windsock and tetrahedron were favoring runway 36. He then decided to land on runway 36. He reported that he encountered a tailwind during the landing so he put the airplane into a 'sharp slide' which resulted in the main gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over. Local winds reported 10 minutes prior to the accident were from 250 degrees at 12 knots. The winds reported 10 minutes after the accident were from 270 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots.
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: 492 hours in all; 18 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 492 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1998; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,054 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAD at 9:10 pm
- Destination: CAD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,005 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from CAD
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.