Mooney M20E accident near Tonasket, Washington, July 29, 2007
On July 29, 2007 at about 4:31 am local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N9302M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tonasket, Washington (Tonasket Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb following an aborted landing that resulted in a stall/spin. The pilot's misjudged speed and distance that resulted in a failure to attain a proper touchdown point was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2007 · about 4:31 am local time
- Place
- Tonasket, Washington · Tonasket Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N9302M · no longer on the register · serial 1235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a night visual approach to a 3,053 foot-long runway that was the intended destination for the flight. A witness, who was located approximately 50 feet from the runway, stated the airplane approached from the south and touched down well beyond the midpoint of the runway. Shortly after touching down, the airplane accelerated and the airplane became airborne. Approximately 0.25 miles off the departure end of the runway at an estimated altitude of 250 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane rolled left and impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The accident occurred approximately 28 minutes after sunset. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of a mechanical anomaly or failure. Toxicological samples from the pilot's blood detected diphenhydramine (a sedating antihistamine commonly known by the trade name Benadryl) at a level consistent with recent use. Diphenhydramine is used over-the-counter for allergies and as a sleep aid, and has been shown to impair the performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks at typical doses.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 0S7 Oroville WA at 4:16 am
- Destination: W01 Tonasket WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,053 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.