Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K accident near Addison, Texas, December 13, 2022
On December 13, 2022 at about 2:05 am local time, a 1980 Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, registered N231GZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Addison, Texas (Addison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue failure of the engine’s camshaft gear teeth which resulted in a loss of all engine power. Contributing to the accident was the non-compliance with the engine manufacturer’s recommended service bulletin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2022 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, built 1980
- Registration
- N231GZ · registry record · serial 25-0253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane lost all engine power during a precision instrument approach for landing to the destination airport. After the pilot was unsuccessful in attempting to restart the engine, he performed an off-airport landing to a road, during which the airplane struck a pole and a postcrash fire ensued. There was substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that about 12 of the camshaft gear teeth were fractured due to fatigue cracking. The airplane engine’s camshaft gear part numbers were affected by the engine manufacturer’s service bulletin (SB) for camshaft gear tooth fracture or cracks of the teeth. The SB called for the replacement of the camshaft gear with a newer model. The intent of the SB was to eliminate the possibility of camshaft gear tooth fracture, resulting in power loss or in-flight shutdown; compliance with the SB is not mandatory for Part 91 operations. Based upon the camshaft gear part numbers, the SB was not complied with but likely would have addressed the fatigue failure of the camshaft gear teeth. The maintenance records for the airplane were destroyed in the postimpact fire and could not be examined.
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 (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (IFR final approach)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-NB17 (piston); 2,000 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KABI Abilene TX
- Destination: KADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 2984.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from KADS, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KADS 130210Z 12013G18KT 2SM -RABR OVC004 17/15 A2984=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 CEN23LA062.