Mooney M20C accident near Eastsound, Washington, August 28, 2006
On August 28, 2006 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N5738Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eastsound, Washington (Orcas Island airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2006 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eastsound, Washington · Orcas Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5738Q · registry record · serial L820336A
- 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 approximately 40 minutes prior to landing he noted a reduction in manifold pressure and indicated airspeed, however he elected to continue the flight to his flight-planned destination. He reported that the airplane's approach speed was slow and that he added power too late. A witness stated the airplane seemed slow during the final approach segment of the flight and appeared to have stalled approximately 30-40 feet above the runway. After contacting the runway, the airplane bounced and the pilot applied power. After contacting the runway the second time, the airplane veered off the runway and come to rest west of the intended runway.
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: 942 hours in all; 238 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 821 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,225 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KORS Eastsound WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from KORS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.