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
Apr 03, 1993 FORT WORTH, TX N9337M Minor substantial PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND RESULTANT DISCREPANCIES. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Jan 02, 1993 GORMAN, CA N6790V Minor substantial
1) THE CARBURETOR INLET FUEL LINE BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH METAL P…

1) THE CARBURETOR INLET FUEL LINE BEING IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH METAL PARTICLES, AND 2) THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE BEING JAMMED BY METAL PARTICLES WHICH ALLOWED EXCESSIVE FUEL TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE CARBURETOR RESULTING IN FLOODING AND THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT ENCOUNTERING AN UNFAVORABLE CROSSWIND DURING FINAL APPROACH WHICH LED TO THE AIRPLANE'S WING COLLIDING WITH FENCE POSTS DURING LANDING ROLL.

Dec 31, 1992 SO. LAKE TAHOE, CA N9511M Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO GUSTING CROSS WINDS AND ICE ON THE RUNWAY.
Dec 25, 1992 DERIDDER, LA N6878N Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE IN IMC. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Nov 29, 1992 ORANGE, VA N231JU Incident substantial WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Nov 24, 1992 DARIEN, GA N6742U Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE FOG AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE AVAILABLE EN ROUTE WEATHE…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE FOG AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE AVAILABLE EN ROUTE WEATHER SOURCES.

Nov 21, 1992 SANTA ANA, CA N4766H Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, HIS IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE, AND HIS INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL MUSH CONDITION.
Oct 28, 1992 JOHNSON CITY, TN N2975L Serious (1) substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Oct 14, 1992 MEXIA, TX N201BL Minor substantial
THE PILOT FUELED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL INSTEAD OF AVAITION GASOLINE. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING AN…

THE PILOT FUELED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL INSTEAD OF AVAITION GASOLINE. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.

Sep 26, 1992 STOW, MA N1338W Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARKNESS, A LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTING ON THE…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARKNESS, A LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL QUES.

Sep 21, 1992 WESTON, WV N99693 Fatal (2) destroyed
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER ATTACH BOLTS AND STUDS, FATIQUE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS/STUDS, AND SEPARATI…

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER ATTACH BOLTS AND STUDS, FATIQUE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS/STUDS, AND SEPARATION OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND HILLY TERRAIN, WHICH WERE UNSUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Aug 04, 1992 SEDONA, AZ N9124L Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND DELAYED GO-AROUND DECISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAI…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND DELAYED GO-AROUND DECISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE TOUCH-DOWN DURING A DOWN WIND LANDING.

Jul 24, 1992 HENDERSONVILLE, NC N6785N Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN EXECUTING A RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND HIS INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER AND LANDING WAS ABORTED. F…

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN EXECUTING A RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND HIS INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER AND LANDING WAS ABORTED. FACTORS WERE THE EXCESSIVE LANDING SPEED AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Jul 23, 1992 EUFAULA, AL N6730N Minor substantial THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO AS A RESULT OF THE STICKING BUSHING BETWEEN THE DIAPHRAGMS.
Jul 13, 1992 PASS-A-GRILLE, FL N9379A Incident substantial TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Jul 03, 1992 OCONTO FALLS, WI N231FW Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS DURING A LOW PASS.
Jun 23, 1992 BLAKELY ISLAND, WA N5794Q Minor substantial
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING THE PROPER RATE OF DESCENT AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND SEPARATION OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT AND O…

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING THE PROPER RATE OF DESCENT AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND SEPARATION OF THE NOSE GEAR STRUT AND OVERLOAD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS: TAILWIND AND DOWNDRAFT, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY.

Jun 11, 1992 BLOOMINGTON, IL N302FW Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH.
Jun 07, 1992 FREELAND, WA N5887Q Incident substantial BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO SYSTEM. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CORRODED AND ANIMALS IN THE LANDING AREA.
Jun 06, 1992 STANLEY, ID N5772C Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND HIS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, RESULTING IN A SWERVE OFF THE 15…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND HIS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, RESULTING IN A SWERVE OFF THE 150 FT WIDE RUNWAY AND IMPACT WITH A FENCE. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTS, THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE FENCE BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

May 27, 1992 JOHNSTOWN, NY N9541M Serious (1) substantial THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING UNDERSHOOD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.
May 17, 1992 GLENDIVE, MT N2920L Fatal (4) destroyed AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND THE AIRCRAFT.
Apr 29, 1992 ADAMSTOWN, MD N3357X Fatal (1) destroyed FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Mar 28, 1992 CUMBERLAND IS., GA N1975Y Minor substantial
THE LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG AT A CRITICAL POINT IN FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE INADEQUATE OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON; AND THE INADV…

THE LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG AT A CRITICAL POINT IN FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE INADEQUATE OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON; AND THE INADVERTENT STALL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) WHICH BOUNDED THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE THRESHOLD.

Mar 27, 1992 YOUNGS BOTTOM, WV N9136J Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITION WHICH RESULTED IN DEGRADED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, INADEQUATE AIRSPEED, A…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITION WHICH RESULTED IN DEGRADED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, INADEQUATE AIRSPEED, AND AERODYNAMIC STALL. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER.

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