Amateur-built Q-2 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, February 28, 2004
On February 28, 2004 at about 11:53 pm local time, a amateur-built Q-2, registered N143GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland-Hillsboro airport). 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 pilot's inadequate evaluation of deteriorating weather conditions (increasing rain) and his failure to maintain the proper rate of descent on landing (long/hard touchdown). Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions and rain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2004 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Portland-Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q-2
- Registration
- N143GJ · no longer on the register · serial 37
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the Revmaster 2100DQ engine, a Volkswagen automobile engine modified for aircraft use, had just undergone maintenance work for a sticking valve and this was the first flight for the homebuilt aircraft following that maintenance. He took off in light drizzle, flew one circuit in the pattern and was climbing out for a second approach when he encountered heavy rain. The aircraft's engine began to run rough and the pilot applied carburetor heat but the partial power loss continued. He then received clearance to land and executed a rapid descent to a hard landing coming to rest near the midpoint of the 4,049 foot long asphalt runway. The temperature/dew point at the time of the accident at the site was 8/6 degrees Celsius respectively, and serious carburetor icing conditions existed.
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: 495 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 412 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 106 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2003; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100DQ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Hillsboro OR at 11:30 pm
- Destination: HIO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,049 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from HIO
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.