Mooney M20K accident near Burley, Idaho, February 10, 2024
On February 10, 2024 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1981 Mooney M20K, registered CFLQQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Burley, Idaho (Burley Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to fly a stabilized approach during an emergency landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent runway excursion during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which resulted in its operation with an inadequate quantity of oil, insufficient engine oil pressure, and a subsequent emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2024 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K, built 1981 · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- CFLQQ · no longer on the register · serial 25-0511
- 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, while on a cross-country flight at a cruise altitude of FL 240, he observed a substantial drop in oil pressure and a subsequent loss of throttle response to the engine. Therefore, he declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport. During the approach, the airplane came in too high and fast, which resulted in the airplane bouncing during the landing. It subsequently exited the end of the runway and struck the airport perimeter fence and a metal trash container before coming to rest. The landing runway indicated about 7 knots of tailwind. Additionally, the pilot did not fly a stabilized approach in airspeed and altitude parameters. The cumulative effect of the tailwind, unstabilized approach, and reduced braking from the airplane bouncing led to the runway excursion that followed. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Initially, only a small quantity of oil was noted in the engine. After four quarts of oil were added, the oil quantity measured in the normal operating range. The engine was then motored from the starter, and a normal reading of oil pressure was indicated. During the motoring, no oil leaks were detected. Based on the results of the examination, the pilot likely performed an inadequate preflight and did not ensure that the airplane’s oil quantity was appropriately serviced before the flight, which resulted in the low oil pressure reading during flight. The reason for the reported loss of throttle response could not be determined.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,003 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GBLB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTF Great Falls MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06, 4,072 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KBYI, 47 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBYI 101953Z AUTO 28009KT 10SM OVC022 M01/M05 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP230 T10061050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane’s tire markings in the grass off the departure end of the runway.
Photograph 2 – Airplane’s tire markings in the grass leading to where the airplane came to rest.
Photograph 3 – Airplane Wreckage as viewed from the frontThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2026. 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 | Memorandums for Record | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | ADS-B Flight Data | data file | Download |
| 4 | Route of Flight Diagrams | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Ac 91-79B Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Airframe and Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 5 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.