Cessna 150M accident near Elk River, Idaho, May 14, 2005
On May 14, 2005, a Cessna 150M, registered N704JJ, was destroyed in an accident near Elk River, Idaho (Elk River Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to control the airplane during initial climb due to the restricted movement of the control yoke and rudder control by the passenger, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2005
- Place
- Elk River, Idaho · Elk River Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704JJ · registry record · serial 15078645
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported observing the airplane enter a left climbing turn over rising terrain after taking off to the south. The airplane subsequently impacted trees with its left wing before impacting the ground in a nose down attitude. The pilot reported that his passenger, who was in excess of 6 feet tall, had a habit of placing his feet on the rudder pedals during flight. The pilot stated that after taking off and entering a left turn, he noticed the turn wasn't coordinated, the result of the passenger having his feet on the rudder pedals. The pilot said that he attempted to return to the airport, but the passenger "freaked out" and grabbed the control yoke, resulting in the pilot losing control of the airplane and crashing. An postaccident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any anomalies with the airplane, which would have precluded normal operations.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,164 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID85 Elk River ID
- Destination: LWS Lewiston ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA05LA098.