Friday, January 09, 2026

Loss of control in flight: Cessna 150F, N6561F, accident occurred on April 8, 2025, at Ottawa Executive Airport (Z98), Zeeland, Michigan

  • Location: Zeeland, Michigan 
  • Accident Number: CEN25LA147 
  • Date & Time: April 8, 2025, 08:51 Local 
  • Registration: N6561F 
  • Aircraft: Cessna 150F 
  • Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
  • Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
  • Injuries: 2 None 
  • Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199978/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199978

The flight instructor and student were conducting a primary instruction flight. The flight instructor reported that the student allowed the airplane to get low and slow during a landing approach. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, added full throttle for a go-around, and began to retract the flaps. The flight instructor recalled being unable to reduce airplane pitch and believed her student may have still been on the flight controls. The student reported that after the flight instructor took control of the airplane it got too slow and entered an aerodynamic stall. Airport surveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway in a nose-high pitch attitude and yawed left when it descended and impacted the ground left wing first. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted in the grass next to the runway. The airplane’s forward fuselage and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged during the ground impact and subsequent nose over.

Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented had she not been “overconfident” in the student’s ability to land the airplane, if she had ensured the student had relinquished control of the airplane when she began the go-around, and if she had been quicker to recognize the situation.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the go-around which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and her failure to ensure that the student had relinquished control of the airplane during the go-around. 

Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, N6010E, incident occurred on January 7, 2026, at Prescott Regional/Ernest A Love Field Airport (PRC/KPRC), Prescott, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6010E

- History of Flight:
On January 2, 2026, at about 0808 local time, a privately-registered Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, N6010E, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Prescott Regional/Ernest A Love Field Airport (PRC/KPRC), Prescott, Arizona. The pilot and passenger onboard was not injured. The flight originated from the Pegasus Airpark (5AZ3), Queen Creek, Arizona, at 0658 LT, and was destined to KPRC.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft conducting a touch and go, lifted off the runway, gear was retracted and fell back onto the runway with the gear up." ADS-B data indicates the airplane was landing on runway 21 at the time.

- Weather:

METAR KPRC 071453Z 19005KT 10SM CLR 02/01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP137 T00220006 56003

METAR KPRC 071514Z 13003KT 10SM BKN085 03/01 A2999 RMK AO2 T00280006

MD Helicopters MD 500 (369D), N861MC, incident occurred on December 31, 2025, near Rogersburg, Washington

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N861MC

- History of Flight:
On December 31, 2025, at about 1000 local time, a MD Helicopters MD 500 (369D), N861MC, registered to Quicksilver Air Inc out of Fairbanks, Alaska, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident near Rogersburg, Washington. The pilot was not injured.

The FAA reported: "The helicopter rotor blade made contact with a rock while conducting game capture operations."

Arion Lightning XS, N929XS, incident occurred on January 7, 2026, at Hidden Lake Airport (FA40), New Port Richey, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N929XS

- History of Flight:
On January 7, 2026, at about 1609 local time, a privately-registered Arion Lightning XS, N929XS, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at Hidden Lake Airport (FA40), New Port Richey, Florida. The sole pilot onboard was not injured. The local flight originated from the airport.

Local news reported that the airplane landed on runway 23 and was unable to stop and ended up in the pond. ADS-B data shows the airplane on final approach to the runway at 1607 LT. However, the FAA reported that the airplane veered off a taxiway at 1609 LT. The airplane appears to have sustained structural damage to the right wing, but its hard to tell with the current photos of the event.

Figure: Aircraft resting position.

- Weather:

METAR KBKV 072053Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 26/16 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP173 T02610156 55011

METAR KBKV 072153Z 28007KT 10SM CLR 24/17 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02440167

Piper PA-44-180 Seminole, N126ML, incident occurred on January 6, 2026, at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB/KSFB), Orlando, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N126ML

- History of Flight:
On January 6, 2026, at about 1953 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 Seminole, N126ML, registered to L3 CTS Airline Academy, sustained unknown damage when it struck a runway light after landing on runway 27R at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB/KSFB), Orlando, Florida. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The local training flight originated from KSFB at 1816 LT.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft struck a runway light while exiting the runway."

Figure 1: Taxi sequence captured on ADS-B exchange ran through Google Earth

Cessna 150L, N101FA, accident occurred on January 5, 2026, at Campbell Airport (C81), Grayslake, Illinois

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N101FA

- History of Flight:
On January 5, 2026, at about 1430 local time, a Cessna 150L, N101FA, registered to Stiletto Beaver Touchdown LLC, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Campbell Airport (C81), Grayslake, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was being operated on a local training flight.

The FAA reported that the aircraft departed and impacted trees. 

The airport features two asphalt runways, runway 6/24 which is 3573 x 40 ft, and runway 9/27 which is 3270 x 40 ft.

ADS-B data suggest the aircraft was using runway 9/27 for touch and go(es). An FAA additional remark states: "NO TOUCH & GO LNDG PERMITTED."

ScaleWings SW51 Mustang, N351MT, accident occurred on January 5, 2026, in Fredericksburg, Texas

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N351MT

- History of Flight:
On January 5, 2026, at about 1545 local time, a ScaleWings SW51 Mustang, N351MT, registered to Canard Aero LLC out of Redwood City, California, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Fredericksburg, Texas. The sole pilot onboard was not injured.

The FAA reported: "Aircraft experienced engine power loss just after being airborne, set back down and ground looped."