Mooney M20C accident near Kokomo, Indiana, September 11, 2011
On September 11, 2011 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N9266M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Kokomo, Indiana (Kokomo Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power following takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2011 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · Kokomo Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C NO SERIES · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9266M · no longer on the register · serial 3457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot was unable to regain engine power and performed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to carburetor icing charts, serious carburetor icing conditions at cruise power were present at the time of the accident; however, the pilot applied carburetor heat after the loss of engine power, and power was not regained.
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 (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,094 hours in all; 506 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 4,280 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 24, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKK Kokomo IN at 1:30 pm
- Destination: GUS Peru IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:30 pm from OKK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.