Halsted Flightstar Pioneer accident near Nampa, Idaho, June 19, 2007
On June 19, 2007 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Halsted Flightstar Pioneer, registered N8003U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nampa, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure (fracture) of the crankshaft of the non-certificated two-cycle engine during cruise flight. Factors include a ditch running through the field in which the pilot executed his engine-out forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2007 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nampa, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Halsted Flightstar Pioneer
- Registration
- N8003U · registry record · serial 917
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight at 3,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine of the light sport aircraft suddenly quit. The pilot therefore attempted to land the aircraft in a nearby open field. Although the initial touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft encountered a ditch and flipped over onto its back. A post-accident teardown of the 50 horsepower non-certificated two-cycle Hirth engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured into two pieces.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 752 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth F23-V28H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KS67 Nampa ID at 2:00 pm
- Destination: KS67
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.