Cessna 150G accident near Middleton, Idaho, May 18, 2000
On May 18, 2000 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3054S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleton, Idaho. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2000 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3054S · no longer on the register · serial 15066954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while returning to the airport, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot attempted to isolate the problem and found that by priming, he was able to get momentary increases in power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field, but due to the loss of altitude, the pilot was unable to align the landing roll with the plowed rows in the field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Prior to the investigative team arriving at the maintenance shop where the airplane was recovered to, a mechanic opened up the carburetor and stated that he found a small bit of black substance in the carburetor float bowl, but did not retain the substance for further inspection. No other mechanical discrepancies were noted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 720 as pilot in command; 288 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,826 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 29, 2000; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S78 Emmett ID at 11:45 pm
- Destination: EUL Caldwell ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from EUL, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.