Mooney M20C accident near Blakely Island, Washington, June 23, 1992
On June 23, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N5794Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blakely Island, Washington (Blakely Island Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING THE PROPER RATE OF DESCENT AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND SEPARATION OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT AND OVERLOAD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS: TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Blakely Island, Washington · Blakely Island Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5794Q · no longer on the register · serial 3099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT THE PILOT SET UP TO LAND WITH A TAILWIND COMPONENT. DURING THE FLARE A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND AND THEN ABORTED THE ATTEMPT DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED.
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: 750 hours in all; 750 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,293 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from FHR, 9 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.