What happened
On September 9, 2019, a Cessna 150, registration N9492U, crashed into a 180-foot-tall municipal water tower in Whitehall, Michigan. The flight departed from Fremont Municipal Airport (FFX) at approximately 11:15 EDT. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
Witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude in a straight and level manner, traveling from the north-northeast. The engine was reported to be at a high-power setting at the time of the accident. The aircraft subsequently impacted the center of the water tower, which was located in a densely populated area approximately 17 miles west of the departure airport. The impact occurred at an approximate heading of 225°.
The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a subsequent post-impact fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the damage to the airplane and the water tower was consistent with a perpendicular impact. The engine was found fragmented with a fractured crankcase and cylinders expelled from the unit. The propeller had separated from the engine; the propeller mounting bolts were sheared, and the propeller blades were damaged.
No mechanical anomalies were found in the airframe or engine that would have prevented the pilot from maneuvering to avoid the obstacle. The investigation also noted that the pilot's third-class medical certificate had expired more than 20 years prior, and there were no FAA records of a renewal.
Toxicology testing of the pilot's specimens revealed the presence of citalopram (an antidepressant) and diphenhydramine (a sedating antihistamine). The pilot's medical records indicated a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an anxiety disorder.