Mooney M20K accident near Roseburg, Oregon, February 16, 2005
On February 16, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N1147D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roseburg, Oregon. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fractured piston pin that resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. Factors include rough/uneven mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Roseburg, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1147D · registry record · serial 25-0594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, while in a climb configuration, the airplane's engine began to lose manifold pressure and engine RPM. Concurrent with the loss of engine power, the pilot noted a loss of oil pressure and elected to land the airplane, off-airport, in a wooded area. Post accident examination of the engine revealed that the distal end of the number 5 piston pin was fractured. Further examination revealed that the inner aluminum piston pin insert fractured-off just inboard of where the pin begins to taper outward. The fracture face was flat and perpendicular to the outer surface of the steel housing. Both fracture surfaces (inner and outer) sustained extensive smearing type damage and metal loss so significant that an analysis of the fracture surfaces could not be completed. Heavy scoring was noted to the wall of the number five cylinder assembly and piston. Extensive mechanical damage was observed to the relief area of the piston. The bottom piston ring was seized in place. Removal and examination of the oil sump revealed that the sump contained oil, as well as a large amount of metallic type particles. The oil pickup tube and screen was intact and also contained a significant amount of metallic like particles similar to the material found in the oil sump. The amount of metallic particles in the pickup tube and screen was sufficient enough to restrict the oil flow passage. The metallic particles were non-magnetic.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,975 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,818 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2004; 17.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,130 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OR01 Roseburg OR at 6:19 pm
- Destination: LWS Lewiston ID
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:26 pm from KRBG, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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 SEA05LA049.