Accident Details
On August 30, 2016, at approximately 2035 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, registration N18601, impacted terrain short of the grass runway at Rosenau Airport (21ND) in Upham, North Dakota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was privately registered and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had departed from 21ND about 1900.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he was returning from a local pleasure flight and was approaching his unlighted, grass airstrip to land to the west, into the setting sun. He stated that the sun had already set, but there was light to the west. He did not remember the crash. Sunset occurred at 2032, and civil twilight ended at 2104. The airplane impacted a river bank near the approach end of the runway, 6 feet below the elevation of the runway, nosed over, and traveled 42 feet before coming to rest upside down.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was buckled behind the cockpit and the left wing spar was bent. The pilot indicated on his submitted NTSB accident report that there were no malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Medical and Maintenance Information
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. His last medical examination was for a third-class medical on May 5, 2012. The last annual inspection of the airplane was performed on November 30, 2013. Neither pilot nor maintenance logbooks were recovered during the investigation.