Cessna 150M accident near Prospect, Oregon, September 14, 1990
On September 14, 1990 at about 6:15 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3420V, was destroyed in an accident near Prospect, Oregon (Prospect State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE DURING HIS APPROACH. THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1990 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Prospect, Oregon · Prospect State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3420V · no longer on the register · serial 15076497
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES APRX 200 YDS SE OF THE AIRPORT DURING A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH. THE COLLISION PATH WAS ORIENTED ALONG A HEADING OF 010 DEG; WHILE APPARENTLY APPROACHING RWY 02. A RESIDENT IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT AT 2400 HE HAD NOTED AN OVERCAST LAYER AND LIGHT MISTING CONDITIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 5:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:54 am from MFR, 28 miles away
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.