Mooney M20J accident near El Reno, Oklahoma, June 25, 2013
On June 25, 2013 at about 1:25 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N205MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near El Reno, Oklahoma (El Reno Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power, which resulted from the failure of the magneto assembly for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2013 · about 1:25 pm local time
- Place
- El Reno, Oklahoma · El Reno Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N205MC · no longer on the register · serial 24-3012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the engine abruptly lost power while he was practicing instrument approaches under visual flight rules. His efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing to the center median of a roadway. A postaccident examination revealed that the dual magneto assembly was not functioning properly. Although the magneto drive shaft operated during engine crankshaft rotation, the magneto points did not open as required. A teardown examination revealed that the magneto components were worn. In addition, the threaded inserts had lifted out of the mounting block. The magneto assembly was inspected less than 1 flight hour before the accident during an engine propeller strike inspection, and the magneto block, points, and cam were replaced at that time. The accident flight was the second flight since the inspection and maintenance work had been performed. Although the magneto points might have been misaligned due to the threaded insert lifting out of the mounting block, it is unlikely that such a discrepancy would have resulted in a loss of magneto function within such a short timeframe. The magneto failure caused the loss of engine power; however, the cause of the magneto failure could not be determined.
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 approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 964 hours in all; 581 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 916 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 17, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2012; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 2,600 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Bethany OK at 12:30 pm
- Destination: PWA Bethany OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from PWA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.