CHI97LA064
1997-02-01 · DOWAGIAC, Michigan, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport C91
Current FAA registration · N4655X
- Make / Model
- CESSNA 150G
- Engine
- CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES (100 hp)
- Seats / Engines
- 2 seats · 1 engine
- Last airworthiness date
- 19660806
- ADS-B equipped
- Yes — Mode-S A5AF4B
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the snowbank.
Factual narrative
On February 1, 1997, at 1635 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150G, N4655X, sustained substantial damage during a nose over during takeoff on runway 27 (4700' x 100' dry/asphalt) at Dowagiac, Michigan. The solo student pilot was conducting touch and go landings when the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted a snowbank. The pilot reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight originated about 1510. The student pilot said that during the transition from a landing to takeoff, the airplane "veered" left. He said he then attempted a "soft field" takeoff, in an attempt to get the airplane airborne; however, the landing gear contacted a snowbank and the airplane nosed over. The student pilot was conducting solo touch-and-go landings. While in the transition from a landing to takeoff, directional control was lost. The pilot attempted to continue the takeoff; however, the landing gear contacted a snowbank and the airplane nosed over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1997_CHI97LA064.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
Search this event elsewhere
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