Amateur-built MURPHY MOOSE accident near Ocean Shores, Washington, June 8, 2024
On June 8, 2024 at about 11:14 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built MURPHY MOOSE, registered N9695W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Ocean Shores, Washington (Ocean Shores Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s hard, bounced landing, subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2024 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Shores, Washington · Ocean Shores Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MURPHY MOOSE, built 2013
- Registration
- N9695W · no longer on the register · serial 299 SR
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land during gusty wind conditions when the accident occurred. A pilot-rated witness at the airport reported that he observed the accident airplane’s approach to the runway and thought it was too steep for the wind conditions. The airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air about 4 ft; a gust of wind caught the left wing, pushing the airplane downwind to the right toward marshland. The witness stated that the engine powered up, but the airplane stalled and was in a nose-low attitude when it impacted the ground. Witnesses located around the airport stated that the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced back into the air; the left wing was caught by a gust of wind and the airplane rotated to the right. Examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Recorded ADS-B and on-board recorded flight track data showed the airplane’s departure and flight towards the accident airport. Flight track data from both sources showed the airplane enter the traffic pattern and land on runway 33. The on-board data showed that in the last few minutes the airplane’s ground speed decayed to about 48 kts, with the last recorded data showing the airplane in a pitch-down attitude and a right roll near the last recorded ADS-B target. The witness statements and recorded data are consistent with a hard, bounced landing, followed by an aerodynamic stall during the attempted go-around.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 222 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 87.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 16, 2023
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vedeneyev M-14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8W5 Silverdale WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KHQM, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHQM 082253Z AUTO 26015KT 10SM CLR 16/12 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP156 T01610122
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.