# NTSB WPR20CA276: Mooney M20C, N2933L, Hillsboro, OR, August 19, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2020, 19:50 local (Aug 19, 2020, 02:50 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OR - Coordinates: 45.427776, -122.943054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4278&lon=-122.9431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101820/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101820 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA276 ## Probable cause 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2933L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2933L-2022-02-02), registration cancelled 2022-02-02, S/N 670067, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C (No Series) - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670067 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5568 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2020, 21 hours before - Departed: MMV, McMinnville, OR - Destination: 7S3, Hillsboro, OR - Airport: 7S3, Starks Twin Oaks Airport, runway 02, 2,465 × 48 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,260 total, 20 in this make and model, 3,170 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 372 total, 283 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: HIO, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200818013459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200818013459A), Aug 18, 2020: Mooney M20C, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. During the touch down portion of a practice final approach to landing, the aircraft?s right main landing gear contacted the upward sloping turf surface… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101820. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 11.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11414540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-operator%20accident%20report%20form_redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot clarification of terms (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11414594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20clarification%20of%20terms_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array of accident airplane (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12415823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array%20of%20airplane%20(courtesy%20of%20Arnold%20%26%20Arnold%20Insurance)-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.