# NTSB WPR26FA320: Mooney M20C, N2783W, Mount Hood, OR, August 31, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: August 31, 2026, 11:31 local (18:31 UTC)
- Place: Mount Hood, OR · 9 nm SW of 4S2
- Coordinates: 45.536667, -121.6125
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5367&lon=-121.6125&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Lycoming, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA320
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203693/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA320

## Preliminary report

On August 31, 2026, about 1131 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N2783W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hood River, Oregon. The pilot and flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. A witness reported that the airplane was based at Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), Hood River, Oregon, and was conducting a local flight approximately 10 miles southwest of the airport while maneuvering in the Parkdale Valley area. One witness reported observing the airplane perform several maneuvers characterized as “aerobatic-type tricks” before it entered a nose-down attitude and collided with terrain. Additional witnesses stated that the two pilots were conducting stall-practice maneuvers as part of a flight review at the time of the accident. The accident site was located on sloping terrain at an elevation of approximately 1,502 ft mean sea level (msl). The wreckage came to rest atop an agricultural debris pile in an approximate 30° nose-down attitude on a magnetic heading of about 220° and resulted in a crater measuring approximately 5 ft in diameter and 3 ft in depth beneath the wreckage. The aft fuselage and empennage remained largely intact but exhibited downward bending aft of the passenger compartment. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site, and the wreckage debris was confined to an area within approximately 50 ft of the main wreckage. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the trees directly above the wreckage. A displaced section of fence adjacent to the wreckage had damage consistent with contact from the airplane's right wingtip. The wreckage was subsequently recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: 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)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2783W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2783W), registered now, S/N 3361, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- 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: 3361
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 5917.8
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2025, 17.1 hours before
- Departed: 4S2, Hood River, OR
- Equipment: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: K4S2, 9 nm away
- METAR: METAR K4S2 311815Z AUTO 06003KT 10SM CLR 23/07 A2991 RMK AO2

## 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 20260831011519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260831011519A), Aug 31, 2026: Mooney M20C, Mt Hood, OR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On 08/31/2026 aircraft [privacy data omitted], a Mooney M20C [privacy data omitted], departed from 4S2, ken jernstedt airfield, in Hood river, Oregon for a…

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.

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