Mooney M20M accident near Ben Bolt, Texas, June 30, 2025
On June 30, 2025 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1998 Mooney M20M, registered N5287S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ben Bolt, Texas (Kleberg County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2025 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ben Bolt, Texas · Kleberg County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20M, built 1998 · all M20Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5287S · registry record · serial 27-0244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that storms were approaching as the airplane approached the airport. After crossing the arrival end of the runway, the pilot heard a wind shift while listening to the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). He attempted a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced twice, and he attempted a go-around. The pilot noticed a positive rate of climb on the airplane’s altimeter, and he retracted the landing gear. The airplane then pitched up, yawed left, and the pilot attempted to level the wings using aileron and rudder, however the airplane would not respond to the pilot’s control inputs. The airplane impacted terrain and slid across the grass into a tree resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, engine mount, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane and that he lost control due to the strong wind and the initial bounced landing attempt. The pilot reported the wind to be variable at 13 to 20 kts at the time of the accident. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for landing with the airplane is 13 kts.
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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming Engines TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AFW Fort Worth TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: IKG Kingsville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KIKG
Weather report (METAR): KIKG 301455Z AUTO 06005KT 10SM CLR 27/24 A3001 RMK AO2 T02710235,M
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane wreckage
Photograph 2 – View of airplane wreckage
Photograph 3 – Airplane with separated engineThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Crosswind Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | POH Excerpt - Max Demonstrated Crosswind Velocity | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.