October 11, 2008, Cedar Lake, Mich., Cessna 150G

At 1332 Eastern time, the airplane impacted trees and terrain during initial climb from a private airstrip. Visual conditions prevailed. The student pilot was seriously injured and his passenger was fatally injured. The student pilot had reportedly sold the airplane to the passenger prior to the accident flight. The passenger had an expired student pilot certificate. According to the student pilot, the passenger performed the accident takeoff while seated in the right seat. The student pilot was seated in the left seat. The student pilot described the grass runway as "very bumpy."

Monday, November 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane crashed during initial climb, fatally injuring the passenger and seriously injuring the student pilot.
The passenger, who reportedly purchased the aircraft before the flight, was performing the takeoff from the right seat despite having an expired student pilot certificate.
The aircraft was unable to clear a 60-70-foot tree line after taking off from a "very bumpy" grass runway, resulting in impact, a nose-first descent into a backyard, and an engine fire.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The student pilot had reportedly sold the airplane to the passenger prior to the accident flight. The passenger had an expired student pilot certificate. According to the student pilot, the passenger performed the accident takeoff while seated in the right seat. The student pilot was seated in the left seat. The student pilot described the grass runway as “very bumpy.” After liftoff, the airplane was unable to clear the 60-70-foot-high tree line at the departure end of the runway. The airplane impacted several trees before descending nose-first into a residential backyard. An engine compartment fire ensued after impact, and was subsequently extinguished by first responders.