Mooney M20J
Aircraft Manufacturer: Mooney
Model: M20J
About the Mooney M20J
The M20J is the most-registered model in Mooney's lineup. More than 1,000 M20J airframes sit on the U.S. civil registry, and the type accounts for about 26% of the manufacturer's active registered fleet. About three-quarters of all registry records ever held for the M20J remain registered.
Over the type's FAA-registration exposure, the M20J runs about 3.3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Within a cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, it sits at about 40%, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate. Of 89 recorded accidents for the model, 26 were fatal.
Two airworthiness directives are active for the M20J, the same as the two issued against it in total. The most recent AD applicable to the model is dated March 20, 2012.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Mooney |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 5870219 |
| Model | M20J |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Cruise Speed | 126 MPH / 109 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats |
Share your captured photos of the Mooney M20J, receive attribution and a link. Asking Prices
What sellers are asking for the Mooney M20J, across current listings, grouped by model year.
As of October 14, 2026. How we calculate this.
| Years | Currency | Typical asking range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1979 | USD | ≈ $110k – $170k | ≈ $130k |
| 1980–1984 | USD | ≈ $150k – $190k | ≈ $170k |
These are asking prices, not sale prices. What any one aircraft asks or sells for can swing widely with airframe and engine condition, damage history, avionics, paint and interior, logbooks and service records, and plenty else a listing never shows.
Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
88 exact, 0 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
26 fatal accidents.
29.2% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
26,873
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (89)· NUSN (8)· 129 (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 89 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union, SC | N1151H | unknown | Fatal | Enroute | unknown | |
| Silver Springs, NV | N87PM | Substantial | Serious | Landing | unknown | |
| Nampa, ID | N5764H | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | unknown | |
| Edinburg, TX | N5807T | Substantial | None | Enroute | unknown | |
| Windham, NY | N58156 | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | unknown | |
| Appleton, WI | N555ED | Minor | None | Taxi | Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Montauk, NY | N8201R | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Ava, MO | N123WJ | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Falmouth, MA | N3515H | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Gaithersburg, MD | N201RF | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Kerrville, TX | N4267H | Destroyed | Fatal | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Charleston, SC | N9158D | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Katy, TX | N201VZ | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Paradise, CA | N201VJ | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Jacksonville, FL | N3707H | Substantial | Fatal | Uncontrolled descent | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Holly Ridge, NC | N3933H | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Howell, MI | N823SP | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Dinsmore, CA | N4474H | Destroyed | Fatal | Takeoff | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| West Glacier, MT | N5765N | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Alturas, CA | N9146Q | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Block Island, RI | N58066 | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Healdsburg, CA | N201JK | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues | |
| Phoenix, AZ | N201HH | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Bartow, FL | N1149T | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Farmingdale, NY | N52840 | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft |
Page 1 of 4 (showing accidents 1–25 of 89).