Mooney M20J accident near Newport, Oregon, February 7, 2018
On February 7, 2018 at about 6:00 am local time, a 1994 Mooney M20J, registered N925JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, Oregon (Newport Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper approach and landing flare in dark night, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2018 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Newport, Oregon · Newport Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J NO SERIES, built 1994 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N925JH · registry record · serial 24-3329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, during a night personal flight, he was cleared for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot disconnected the autopilot at 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), and he had the runway in sight at 1,000 ft msl. The pilot reported that the approach was continued, and the airplane crossed the runway threshold too high and fast. When the airplane touched down, it bounced at least twice before he added power in an effort to regain control. On the third or fourth bounce, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the side of the runway, coming to rest on the grass. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- 551230 during descent - normal
- 552094 during descent - emergency
- 551900 during descent - normal
- 551090 during descent - normal
- 552300 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,079 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 892 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,623 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, May 4, 2017; 445 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 A3B6D (piston); 2,623 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: KEUG Eugene OR at 5:15 am
- Destination: KONP Newport OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 5,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; thin overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 43°C, dew point 43°C
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 am from KNOP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR18CA085.