Mooney M20C accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, August 19, 2020
On August 19, 2020 at about 2:50 am local time, a 1967 Mooney M20C, registered N2933L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Hillsboro, Oregon (Starks Twin Oaks Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 altitude on short final due to an encounter with a down draft and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2020 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Starks Twin Oaks Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C No Series, built 1967 · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2933L · no longer on the register · serial 670067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was able to maintain an approximately 3° glide path on final approach to land, with power at an intermediate setting. However, on short final the airplane began to sink. The instructor stated that initially the pilot receiving instruction appeared to be adequately correcting, adding power, and increasing pitch. However, less than 100 ft above the touchdown zone and right before the flight instructor was about to command a go-around, the airplane sank further and touched down just prior to the runway. The right main landing gear impacted the edge of the runway and collapsed, substantially damaging the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Turbulence encounter during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,260 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 3,170 as pilot in command; 1,984 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 372 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 288 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,568 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2020; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 5,578 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMV Mcminnville OR at 2:30 am
- Destination: 7S3 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,465 ft by 48 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from HIO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 30, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Clarification of Terms | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array of Accident Airplane | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.