Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 16, 2004 · Cessna 150H · N3915V

Mount Pleasant, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 16, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mount Pleasant, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 150H
Tail Number
N3915V
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI04CA140

The airplane impacted terrain during an attempted takeoff from an alfalfa field. The airplane was situated in the field because of a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion experienced the previous day. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration told the pilot that a takeoff from the field was not advised and a local mechanic informed the pilot that the airplane could be easily towed to a nearby airport. The pilot stated that, "after much deliberation and speaking with other pilots they suggested a takeoff from the field." The pilot reported he walked the length of the field and then decided to perform a "high-speed taxi" to evaluate the area. The pilot stated he selected "minimal flaps to relieve pressure from the nose wheel." The pilot reported that the airplane contacted some bumps in the field and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot stated he "pulled back a bit on the controls and the plane went up a little and [touched] the left wing and flipped over." The pilot reported that the only reason he attempted to "move the plane" was because there were thunderstorms approaching the area. The airplane had become airborne and traveled north approximately 210 feet before the nose gear impacted the terrain. The local winds at the time of the accident were from the south-southeast at six knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper decision to takeoff downwind from the rough field and his failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor to the accident was the rough/uneven alfalfa field and the tailwind experienced during the takeoff.

Full Narrative

On June 16, 2004, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N3915V, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from an alfalfa field near Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The day before the accident, the accident airplane experienced a loss of engine power and the accident pilot performed a forced landing into the alfalfa field. The loss of engine power was determined to be the result of fuel exhaustion, according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the forced landing report on the morning of the accident. The aircraft sustained no apparent damage during the forced landing and the pilot and his passenger were not injured. The FAA inspector told the pilot that the airplane should be inspected prior to further flight and the pilot agreed to contact a local airframe & powerplant mechanic. The mechanic was unable to inspect the airplane until later in the day, but informed the pilot that he could make arrangements to have the airplane towed to the nearby Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP). The pilot said he wanted to takeoff from the alfalfa field in order to reposition the airplane to the nearby MOP, according to the FAA inspector. The FAA inspector advised the pilot against taking off from the field and the mechanic restated that the airplane could be easily towed to the nearby airport for inspection. The FAA inspector departed the scene with the airplane still positioned in the field. The pilot stated, "after much deliberation and speaking with other pilots they suggested a takeoff from the field." The pilot reported he walked the length of the field and then decided to perform a "high-speed taxi" to evaluate the area. The pilot stated he selected "minimal flaps to relieve pressure from the nose wheel." The pilot reported that the airplane contacted some bumps in the field and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot stated he "pulled back a bit on the controls and the plane went up a little and [touched] the left wing and flipped over." The pilot reported that the only reason he attempted to "move the plane" was because there were thunderstorms approaching the area. According to the FAA inspector who returned to the accident site, the airplane had become airborne and traveled north approximately 210 feet before the nose gear impacted the terrain. Wind data was collected from the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at MOP. The winds at the time of the accident were from 160-degrees at six knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150H
Tail NumberN3915V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 6 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time22:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data