NTSB Factual Report

On May 15, 2003, at 1208 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N1528Q, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a semi trailer while on final approach to the east/west runway (2,700 feet by 60 feet, turf) at the North Cedar Airport (MI73), Cedar Springs, 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 reported minor injuries and his passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed Paul C. Miller Airport (8D4), Sparta, Michigan, at 1200.

According to the pilot's written statement, three days prior to the accident, he telephoned a representative of MI73 to ascertain the condition of the runway. The airport representative told the pilot that the east half of the runway was too wet to land on; however, the west half had been drained and was in a serviceable condition.

On the day of the accident, the pilot over-flew the runway to verify the runway condition. The pilot then diverted to 8D4 and telephoned a representative of MI73 to clarify the runway condition. The airport representative told the pilot the west half of the runway was dry; however, the middle portion of the east half was still wet. The pilot reported he departed 8D4 and flew back to MI73. The pilot stated he "entered a left base, and set up for a short field landing with 20 [degrees] flaps. Then, when I turned final, went to full flaps and carried a little power to maintain 65 mph until I had my location picked out to flare, which was right at the end of the runway. I had just closed the throttle when I heard my wife say, 'Truck!'"

The pilot stated the main landing gear impacted the truck and the aircraft "nose pitched over quickly. I saw the ground coming. I remember seeing the ground at impact, as the plane hit about 15 to 20 [degrees] short of vertical."

The aircraft impacted an 11-foot high semi-trailer traveling northbound on a county road that runs adjacent to the airport property. The aircraft subsequently impacted the runway surface approximately 21 feet past the runway threshold, or about 50 feet from the eastern edge of the county road. The runway threshold was approximately 29 feet from the eastern edge of the north/south two-lane road. The road edge was approximately 4 feet above the threshold elevation.

Diagrams that illustrate the position and proximity of the runway to the county road are included with the docket material associated with this factual report.

Several descent profiles were calculated using the position of the runway threshold in reference to the eastern edge of the two-lane county road, resulting in the following:

(1) An airplane flying a 3-degree glideslope would contact the road surface prior to reaching the runway threshold.

(2) A 28-degree glideslope is necessary to clear an 11-foot obstacle positioned at the eastern edge of the road.

MI73 is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a private use airport and permission from airport management is required before landing at the facility. As a private use airport, MI73 is not required to comply with FAA or state regulations concerning airport obstacle clearance standards.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate glidepath and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. A factor to the accident was the semi-trailer.