How many accidents has the Mooney M20 had?

The NTSB has recorded 1232 events involving the Mooney M20: 353 fatal, 137 serious, 193 minor injuries, and 546 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Mooney M20 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Mooney M20 has 1232 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

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
Aug 25, 1990	GLENWOOD SPRING, CO	N74562	Incident	substantial	WRONG RUNWAY SELECTION BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN AN OVERRUN AND A COLLISION WITH A FENCE DURING LANDING ROLL. THE PREVAILING TAILWIND, RUNWAY INFORMA… WRONG RUNWAY SELECTION BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN AN OVERRUN AND A COLLISION WITH A FENCE DURING LANDING ROLL. THE PREVAILING TAILWIND, RUNWAY INFORMATION AND MARKINGS, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ARE FACTORS.
Aug 18, 1990	WINFIELD, KS	N74745	Incident	substantial	NON-COMPLIANCE OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Aug 11, 1990	LODI, CA	N9236M	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT TO CONTINUE HIS FLIGHT WITH A UNRESOLVED DEFICIENCY IN THE AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT RESULTING IN TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT.
Aug 03, 1990	ROSWELL, NM	N5677Q	Incident	substantial	THE INTENTIONAL WHEELS UP LANDING IN SOFT TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SW… THE INTENTIONAL WHEELS UP LANDING IN SOFT TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS, IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR DURING ATTEMPTED RESTARTS, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Jul 14, 1990	TORRINGTON, WY	N6456Q	Incident	substantial	A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A FAILED EXHAUST VALVE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 22, 1990	KELLEYS ISLAND, OH	N1172G	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBJECTS DURING A GO-AROUND. FACTOR WAS UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
May 06, 1990	TORRANCE, CA	N300MD	Incident	substantial	WATER CONTAMINATION INTRODUCED INTO THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS WASHED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN 18 KNOT TAILWIND DURING… WATER CONTAMINATION INTRODUCED INTO THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS WASHED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN 18 KNOT TAILWIND DURING LANDING ROLL WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY.
Mar 30, 1990	MURFREESBORO, TN	N7061V	Incident	substantial	FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.
Jan 31, 1990	GIBSONIA, PA	N1149G	Incident	substantial	THE COLLISION WITH RODS IN THE FIELD AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE.
Jan 26, 1990	PARRIS ISLAND, SC	N8199E	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE THAT SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS ABOARD FOR THE FLIGHT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Dec 24, 1989	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N6879N	Incident	destroyed	PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
Oct 06, 1989	PENSACOLA, FL	N52DB	Incident	minor	IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.
Sep 04, 1989	WEST BRANCH, MI	N5292B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE WITH A NON-PILOT AT THE CONTROLS AND THE PASSENGER'S APPLICATION TO FULL THROTTLE. A FACTOR RELATED TO TH… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE WITH A NON-PILOT AT THE CONTROLS AND THE PASSENGER'S APPLICATION TO FULL THROTTLE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PANIC OF THE PASSENGER.
Aug 15, 1989	DAVIS, OK	N6814V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIAN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING.
Aug 12, 1989	MARIETTA, OK	N252WW	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING (GOING AROUND) AND HIS IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Aug 01, 1989	FOUKE, AR	N6249U	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, AT NIGHT. THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN A COLLISION W… THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, AT NIGHT. THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A FENCEPOST, GROUND SWERVE, AND COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
Jul 18, 1989	MARIETTA, GA	N1379W	Incident	minor	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE.
Jul 08, 1989	STORMVILLE, NY	N6872N	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Apr 30, 1989	JULIAN, CA	N9276V	Incident	substantial	THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOOSE GRAVEL RUNWAY AND THE FENCE WHICH THE AIRPLANE … THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOOSE GRAVEL RUNWAY AND THE FENCE WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR.
Apr 13, 1989	HESPERIA, CA	N5909Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT, THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE, IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED THE AIRPLANE, AND DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WAS P… THE PILOT, THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE, IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED THE AIRPLANE, AND DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT PLANNING WAS POOR AND THAT HE MISJUDEGED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE.
Apr 08, 1989	LAKE ELMO, MN	N9424V	Incident	substantial	FUEL TANK SELECTOR IMPROPERLY POSITIONED, EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IMPROPERLY PERFORMED BY THE PILOT, AND FUEL STARVATION.
Apr 08, 1989	PRESCOTT, AZ	N9705M	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE… THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE OPERATING PROCEDURES.
Feb 14, 1989	SAN MARTIN, CA	N5726M	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED NOT BEING MAINTA… FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED NOT BEING MAINTAINED BY THE CFI. DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND.
Jan 20, 1989	LUMBERTON, NJ	N201MQ	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE PRESENCE OF TREES NEA… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE PRESENCE OF TREES NEAR THE RUNWAY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.
Dec 30, 1988	PERDIDO, AL	N6969V	Incident	substantial	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

Mooney M20 Safety Record

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