Beckman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Paw Paw, Michigan 49079
Sunday, April 22, 2007 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees and terrain while on final approach. The pilot stated that he was landing on a private grass airstrip toward the north. The pilot described the weather as a "clear day, but with high winds." The pilot reported that while on final approach he encountered "wind shear straight down." The pilot stated that the airplane "clipped the tree tops" before impacting terrain. The pilot reported the airplane came to rest along a tree line near the west edge of the north-south runway. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had not attempted flight in the high/gusting wind conditions or by entering final approach at a higher altitude. The wind conditions at an airport approximately 15 nautical miles from the accident site were reported to be from 200 magnetic degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot's medical and student pilot certificate had expired 20 months prior to the accident. The pilot's most recent 90-day solo endorsement was dated September 17, 2003.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while on final approach. Contributing factors to the accident were the gusting wind conditions and the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Paw Paw
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49079
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421528N
Event Location Longitude 0855110W
Event Location Airport Beckman Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7MI2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 740
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID AZO
Elevation of weather observation facility 874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21577
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 22 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8893S
NTSB Number CHI07CA111
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15062193
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5083
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David F. Tapper
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Paw Paw
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49079
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 7MI2
Departure City Paw Paw
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 7MI2
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2007 5:00PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --