Mooney M20J accident near Woodlake, CA
On May 23, 2026, a Mooney M20J (airplane) was involved in an accident near Woodlake, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 23, 2026
- Place
- Woodlake, CA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.399°N, 119.118°W
- NTSB ID
- 20260523203043
NTSB summary
On May 23, 2026, about 1034 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4452H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Woodlake, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 personal flight. According to an acquaintance of the pilot who met him at the airport, the pilot and a friend flew into the airport in a different airplane. The pilot was there to ferry the airplane to his home airport after it had undergone maintenance. After refueling his airplane, the pilot departed and immediately returned and landed. The pilot reported to his acquaintance and his friend that one of the cylinders was running hotter than the other three by about 100°F. He also remarked to both parties that he had leaned the fuel during the first flight and would try running the engine at full rich during his next flight. The pilot started the engine and departed a second time and the pilot’s friend subsequently departed the airport. While about 1,000 ft above ground level, the friend observed the Mooney at a very low altitude. He then witnessed the Mooney bank sharply to the right, which was followed by an abrupt left turn and sparks before the airplane impacted the ground. A witness, who was leaving a self-storage facility, observed the airplane travelling west towards the airport. The witness stated that the airplane was at a low altitude, similar to a crop duster, when it turned right, climbed and then flipped over and went straight down. The witness drove to the accident site and saw a postaccident fire. The airpl
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
