# NTSB SEA00LA087: Cessna 150G, N3054S, Middleton, ID, May 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2000, 17:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Middleton, ID - Coordinates: 43.739688, -116.580787 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7397&lon=-116.5808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA087 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2000, about 1755 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N3054S, registered to and operated by Hinkle Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, nosed over in a field located four miles northeast of Middleton, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight instructor was not injured and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Caldwell, Idaho, about one hour prior to the accident. In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that while returning to Caldwell at 3,500 feet mean sea level, 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 selected a field for an emergency landing. Due to the loss of altitude, the pilot was unable to maneuver the airplane to align the landing roll with the rows. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. After the aircraft was recovered from the field and transported to Caldwell, a mechanic inspected the engine. The mechanic stated that he found a small bit of black substance in the carburetor float bowl, but did not retain the substance for further inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3054S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3054S-2000-12-06), registration cancelled 2000-12-06, S/N 15066954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066954 - Airframe hours: 3826 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hinkle Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 29, 2000, 97 hours before - Departed: S78, EMMETT, ID - Destination: EUL, CALDWELL, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 780 total, 230 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EUL, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000518007129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000518007129A), May 18, 2000: Cessna 150G, Middleton, ID, No damage. (-23) Aircraft engine had sudden loss of power while in level flight. Pilot made an emegency landing in dirt field and came to rest upside down. Substantial… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.