Mooney M20 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1232 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2021 | Holly Ridge, NC | N3933H | Fatal (2) | substantial |
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/mush during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing to th…The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/mush during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loading the airplane near its maximum allowable gross weight and near its aft cg limit. |
| Oct 17, 2021 | Lynchburg, VA | N669GJ | Incident | substantial | The uncommanded landing gear retraction following a hard landing for reasons that could not be determined. |
| Sep 28, 2021 | Tököl, HU | N999U | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 16, 2021 | Sundridge, OF | C-FLJL | Fatal (1) | unk | Investigation pending |
| Sep 16, 2021 | Howell, MI | N823SP | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane’s fuel quantity, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. |
| Aug 31, 2021 | Slave Lake-Alberta, CA | C-GTIJ | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 07, 2021 | Victoria, MN | N9156Z | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during final approach, which led to a spiral dive that overstressed the airplane an…The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during final approach, which led to a spiral dive that overstressed the airplane and resulted in an in-flight breakup. |
| Jul 22, 2021 | New Albany, MS | N6474Q | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the landing that resulted in a collision with a fence post. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the …The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the landing that resulted in a collision with a fence post. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the alternator drive belt during cruise flight for unknown reasons and the subsequent inoperative electrical system when the airplane’s battery became depleted. |
| Jul 18, 2021 | Gothard, SZ | D-EMPE | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jul 15, 2021 | Dinsmore, CA | N4474H | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
The airplane’s degraded engine performance due to wear to the intake cam lobes, which diminished the airplane’s takeoff and climb performance, resulti…The airplane’s degraded engine performance due to wear to the intake cam lobes, which diminished the airplane’s takeoff and climb performance, resulting in a subsequent collision with trees. |
| Jul 01, 2021 | Comodoro Rivadavia, OF | LV-LTT | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jun 28, 2021 | Nampa, ID | N381KH | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to use the landing checklist and to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing. |
| Jun 27, 2021 | Marion, MT | N9613M | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s improper rotation during takeoff from a high-altitude airport and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an impact with trees…The pilot’s improper rotation during takeoff from a high-altitude airport and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper management of the turbocharger, which reduced the engine’s maximum performance during the ground run. |
| Jun 20, 2021 | West Glacier, MT | N5765N | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate performance planning and decision to continue the takeoff which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain. |
| Apr 29, 2021 | Warwick, NY | N6448U | Serious (1) | substantial |
A loose stand-off clamp which resulted in a throttle assembly malfunction, and the inability of the engine to produce full power during the attempted …A loose stand-off clamp which resulted in a throttle assembly malfunction, and the inability of the engine to produce full power during the attempted takeoff. |
| Apr 27, 2021 | Lübeck, GE | N55HR | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Apr 03, 2021 | College Park, MD | N2953L | Incident | substantial |
Improper maintenance of the airplane by its owners and their failure to have qualified maintenance personnel determine the root cause of water infiltr…Improper maintenance of the airplane by its owners and their failure to have qualified maintenance personnel determine the root cause of water infiltration into the fuel system. Also causal was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to remove all of the water contamination from the fuel system prior to the flight and resulted in the partial loss of engine power during the takeoff. Contributing was the pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing. |
| Mar 27, 2021 | Alturas, CA | N9146Q | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing, loss of airplane control and subsequent collision with terrain. |
| Mar 24, 2021 | Animas, NM | N74786 | Serious (2) | substantial | The pilot’s delayed use in the operation of carburetor heat which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. |
| Feb 24, 2021 | Livermore, CA | N3254F | Incident | substantial | A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of corrosion and rust in the fuel injection servo. |
| Nov 09, 2020 | Laconia, NH | N3296F | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an approach in sun glare and hazy conditions. |
| Oct 02, 2020 | Denver, CO | N7798M | Incident | substantial |
Failure of the landing gear motor that prevented the gear from extending fully to the down and locked position, which resulted in a gear collapse on l…Failure of the landing gear motor that prevented the gear from extending fully to the down and locked position, which resulted in a gear collapse on landing and a subsequent loss of directional control. |
| Sep 09, 2020 | Weston, FL | N120GX | Incident | substantial |
A total loss of engine power because of the overheating and failure of the connecting rod bearings due to a lack of lubrication for reasons that could…A total loss of engine power because of the overheating and failure of the connecting rod bearings due to a lack of lubrication for reasons that could not be determined. |
| Aug 19, 2020 | Hillsboro, OR | N2933L | Incident | substantial | 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. |
| Jul 18, 2020 | Block Island, RI | N58066 | Incident | substantial | A hard landing and subsequent loss of control. |