Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper decision to land on a frozen lake.
NTSB analysis
For the solo instructional flight, the student pilot had obtained an endorsement from his flight instructor to fly from the departure airport to the destination airport. During the flight, the student pilot decided to make an unauthorized stop and land on a frozen lake to visit a friend. Upon touchdown on the lake, which was covered in a layer of slush and snow, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13LA151 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 2, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Naples, Maine
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 150
- N-number
- N3438J
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.