Mooney M20M accident near Tallahassee, Florida, July 8, 2026
On July 8, 2026 at about 3:48 pm local time, a 1991 Mooney M20M, registered N488AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Tallahassee, Florida (Tallahassee Intl airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2026 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Tallahassee, Florida · Tallahassee Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M, built 1991 · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N488AT · registry record · serial 27-0088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 8, 2026, at 1148 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tallahassee, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had recently been sold, and he had been hired to ferry it from Florida to Texas. Prior to the flight, a known mechanical issue existed with the No. 5 cylinder. During the flight, the engine began surging, prompting the pilot to divert to Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida. While on the approach to TLH, about 1,000 feet mean sea level, all engine power was lost. The airplane subsequently impacted heavily wooded terrain about one-half mile short of Runway 18. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the scene, about 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the wreckage following the accident. The airplane and engine have been recovered and retained for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Sizemore Proper LLC
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 11:14 am from KTLH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KTLH 081514Z 24007KT 10SM BKN031 32/24 A3013 RMK AO2 T03170239
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA070.