Mooney M20C accident near Troutdale, Oregon, June 18, 1990
On June 18, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N8165E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Troutdale, Oregon (Troutdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION IN WHICH MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL LEFT AN OBJECT IN THE AREA OF THE CARBURETOR WHICH RESULTED IN AN AIR FLOW BLOCKAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8165E · registry record · serial 1976
- 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 A NORMAL PREFLIGHT AND RUN-UP WERE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. WHEN OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF, HE NOTED THAT THE ALTITUDE WAS LOWER AT THAT POINT THAN NORMAL. THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY WHEN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER NOTIFIED HIM THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TURN AND NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE OFF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND A FENCE. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A SHOP RAG WAS AT THE REAR OF THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX AND WEDGED AGAINST THE GUIDE VANES AT THE TOP OF THE BOX WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE CARBURETOR. THE AIRPLANE HAD UNDERGONE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION APPRX 24 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 379 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1989; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S45 Gleneden OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from TTD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.