Mooney M20M

Aircraft Manufacturer: Mooney

Model: M20M

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Mooney
Manufacturer Serial Number 5870222
Model M20M
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
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
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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.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


21 exact, 1 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
22
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


8 fatal accidents.

36.4% of recorded accidents were fatal.

249
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


4,705

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

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 →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
0.3%
Exposure
0.2%
Time series

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 →

2008 – 2025 Total 22
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 22 observed): 2008 2, 2009 2, 2010 2, 2011 1, 2012 4, 2014 1, 2015 2, 2019 2, 2021 4, 2022 1, 2025 1. 2 4 6 8 0 2 '08 2 '09 2 '10 1 '11 4 '12 1 '14 2 '15 2 '19 4 '21 1 '22 1 '25
Composition

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.

7 categories Total 22
Takeoff 5
Approach 5
Landing 5
Enroute 4
Initial climb 1
Maneuvering 1
Uncontrolled descent 1
Causes

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.

NTSB top-level codes Total 74
Personnel issues 32
Aircraft 26
Environmental issues 15
Not determined 1
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 22
None 10
Fatal 8
Minor 3
Serious 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (22)· NUSN (2)· 129 (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 22 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Ben Bolt, TX N5287S Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Manville, NJ N41XL Substantial Minor Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Tampa, FL N21890 Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
Snoqualmie, WA N40KA Substantial Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Victoria, MN N9156Z Destroyed Fatal Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Nampa, ID N381KH Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
College Park, MD N1031M Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Chandler, AZ N1085W Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Worcester, MA N243CW Substantial Fatal Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Manville, NJ N763RC Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Greenwood, IN N72FG Substantial Fatal Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues
Crane Hill, AL N1085A Substantial Fatal Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Heber Springs, AR N9145L Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Clearwater, FL N9140M Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Amisville, VA N486KC Substantial Serious Enroute Not determined
Pomona, CA N741SB Substantial Fatal Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Poughkeepsie, NY N9153Z Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Port Clinton, OH N1054B Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Albany, IN N400DE Substantial Fatal Enroute Personnel issues
Steamboat Springs, CO N270SD Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Elbert, CO N17RA Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Midlothian, VA N429RM Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues

Airworthiness Directives

Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 15, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →

3 active · 3 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:


Time series

Directives by year

Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.

2004 – 2012 Total 3
Airworthiness directives by year Airworthiness directives by year (total 3 observed): 2004 1, 2007 1, 2012 1. 1 2 3 4 0 1 '04 1 '07 1 '12
Subject

Directives by system / component (JASC / ATA code)

Breakdown of the AD count for this model by the FAA's coded subject classification. The corpus mixes legacy 2-digit ATA chapter codes and modern 4-digit JASC codes; both forms are surfaced as separate bars (see the methodology page).

1 category Total 1
Stabilizers 1

Recent directives

The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.

AD number Effective date Subject Status
2012-05-09 Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. (Mooney) Airplanes Active
2007-05-04 Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., (Mooney) Models M20M and M20R Airplanes Active
2004-23-17 Airworthiness Directives; Mooney Airplane Company, Inc., Model M20M Airplanes Active
Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.