Mooney M20D accident near Hood River, Oregon, August 24, 2003
On August 24, 2003 at about 6:27 pm local time, a Mooney M20D, registered N6619U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hood River, Oregon (Hood River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A power loss due to a mis-seated intake valve on the #1 cylinder resulting in leakage during the compression stroke and low compression. Contributing factors were the rising terrain and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2003 · about 6:27 pm local time
- Place
- Hood River, Oregon · Hood River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20D · all M20Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6619U · registry record · serial 114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot's father (right seat), a commercial pilot with more than 2,000 hours in the accident aircraft, reported that the engine ran smoothly on the ground and an RPM check prior to takeoff yielded 2600 RPM. The takeoff roll on the 3,040-foot long asphalt runway seemed long with less than normal power to the flying pilot (left seat). The aircraft was rotated at 65 knots but settled back to the runway at which time the right seat pilot took control and established a shallow climb rate toward the rising terrain west of the airport. Both pilots felt that an aborted takeoff would result in an overrun into a grassy area containing vehicles and pedestrians. The flying pilot (right seat) then banked to avoid a large tree and the aircraft settled into the treetops eventually coming to rest inverted in a bog. Post-crash examination and test run of the engine revealed that the number one cylinder could develop no more than 25-35 pounds of compression. Further examination revealed the number one cylinder intake seat had dropped down out of its normally seated position at an angle preventing the valve from seating evenly during the compression stroke.
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: 106 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 2, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2002; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4S2 Hood River OR at 6:25 pm
- Destination: EUG Eugene OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 3,040 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DLS, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 SEA03LA176.