Cessna 150K N5876G

Summary

On 12 May 1998 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 150K registered N5876G, operated by Laporte County Air Service, was involved in an accident near Clarkston, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 May 1998 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Clarkston, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 150K

Registration

N5876G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Laporte County Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Michigan City → Troy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA148

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot selected unsuitable terrain on which to make the precautionary landing due to weather. Factors associated with the accident were the fog, low ceiling, poor in-flight planning, the precautionary landing, the loose wet gravel on which the precautionary landing was made, and the trees which the airplane contacted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying at 3,500 feet over a 'low level' broken cloud layer. When he thought he was near his destination he descended through a hole in the clouds. Once below the clouds the pilot encountered decreasing clouds and visibility. The pilot elected to land the airplane in an open parking area. Upon touchdown the pilot discovered the surface was wet and covered with loose gravel. Unable to stop the airplane he aborted the landing. Once airborne the airplane contacted trees at the end of the parking area. The pilot reported the sky was obscured and visibility was 0 to 1/4 mile due to fog in the area when the accident occurred. He reported he was informed of fog at his destination during the preflight weather briefing, but it was forecast to dissipate prior to his arrival.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.