Mooney M20 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1232 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

1232

All Events

546

Incidents

193

Minor

137

Serious

353

Fatal (633 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Jun 11, 1990 ANDREWS, NC N201SE Fatal (2) destroyed FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE OVER HIGH TERRAIN. DARKNESS AND HIGH TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Apr 13, 1990 CARSON CITY, NV N231NB Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Apr 03, 1990 BETHANY, OK N3514X Fatal (1) destroyed
LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE INADVERTENTLY WHILE TURNING TO THE BASE LEG. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF NIGHT FLYING …

LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE INADVERTENTLY WHILE TURNING TO THE BASE LEG. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF NIGHT FLYING TIME.

Feb 18, 1990 GALT, CA N4093N Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT FLEW INTO INSTRUMENT CONDITION, BECAUSE SPATIALLY DISORIENTATED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. FACTOR WAS FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Feb 07, 1990 SAN ANDROS, BF N9370M Fatal (5) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 23, 1989 LIVERMORE, CA CFSAB Fatal (4) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONDUCT LOW LEVEL NIGHT FLIGHT UNDER LOW CEILINGS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DARK NIGHT, LOW CEILING, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIO…

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONDUCT LOW LEVEL NIGHT FLIGHT UNDER LOW CEILINGS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DARK NIGHT, LOW CEILING, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS.

Aug 13, 1989 MOUND CITY, KS N6960V Fatal (3) destroyed
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & HEAVY RAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS RELATED TO TH…

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS & HEAVY RAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN.

Jul 21, 1989 SUCHES, GA N205AG Fatal (4) destroyed
THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION DISREGARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IN FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFER. CONTRIBUTING FACTO…

THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION DISREGARDING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IN FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFER. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME.

May 27, 1989 BIG PINE KEY, FL N3201U Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE LIGHT CONDITIONS (DARK NIGHT) AND WEATHER (HAZE) WERE …

THE PILOT BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE LIGHT CONDITIONS (DARK NIGHT) AND WEATHER (HAZE) WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

Apr 15, 1989 LYNCH, KY N9252V Fatal (2) destroyed
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITI…

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

Mar 26, 1989 SAN ANDREAS, CA N9379M Fatal (4) destroyed
INTERRUPTION OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILUE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR RELATE…

INTERRUPTION OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILUE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: LACK OF ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL/SPIN.

Jan 26, 1989 TRUCKEE, CA N3274F Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE WORN FUEL INJECTOR WITH AN INTERIOR LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE PO…

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE WORN FUEL INJECTOR WITH AN INTERIOR LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.

Dec 03, 1988 VERMILLION, IL N201UL Fatal (2) destroyed Investigation pending
Nov 16, 1988 HOLDEN, MA N1170Z Fatal (1) destroyed
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND CONTACT WITH TREES PRIOR TO REGAINING CONTROL AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN PROBLE…

INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND CONTACT WITH TREES PRIOR TO REGAINING CONTROL AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOPILOT. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE LACK OF RECENT NIGHT EXPERIENCE.

Oct 22, 1988 LONGVIEW, TX N79373 Fatal (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Oct 16, 1988 LUDINGTON, MI N58155 Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE UTILIZING BASIC FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WHILE EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF GYRO INSTRUMENTS.
Oct 05, 1988 WALSH, CO N5997Q Fatal (3) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 27, 1988 JACKSON HOLE, WY N9528M Fatal (2) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 24, 1988 INYOKERN, CA N5769Y Fatal (1) destroyed
PILOTS INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING A LEVEL FOUR THUNDERSTORM ON A NIGHT VFR CROSS COUNTRY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'…

PILOTS INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING A LEVEL FOUR THUNDERSTORM ON A NIGHT VFR CROSS COUNTRY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.

Aug 03, 1988 MISSOURI CITY, MO N6528U Fatal (2) substantial Investigation pending
May 28, 1988 JAMESTOWN, CO N5279B Fatal (3) destroyed Investigation pending
May 14, 1988 MIDDLESBORO, KY N9654M Fatal (4) substantial Investigation pending
Apr 01, 1988 JASPER, GA N3638N Fatal (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Nov 15, 1987 ST. MARYS, PA N3644H Fatal (4) destroyed Investigation pending
Nov 15, 1987 GRAND CANYON, AZ N6670R Fatal (4) destroyed Investigation pending
Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.
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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data