Wexford County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cadillac, Michigan 49601
Saturday, September 5, 1998 17:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CADILLAC
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49601
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WEXFORD COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CAD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1307
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CAD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1307
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 700
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1806
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3031J
NTSB Number CHI98LA333
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150E
Aircraft Series Identifier 150E
Aircraft Serial Number 15061131
Certified Max Gross Weight 1054
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 30 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 3514
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HENNRY B. JOHNSON, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2198 6TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City CADILLAC
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CAD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CAD
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2005
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --