Mooney M20J accident near Morris, Illinois, May 15, 2026
On May 15, 2026 at about 9:05 pm local time, a 1977 Mooney M20J, registered N201QM, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Morris, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2026 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1977 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201QM · registry record · serial 24-0339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the local flight, the pilot confirmed the left fuel tank was about ¼ full and the right fuel tank was about ¾ full of fuel. About 30 to 40 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by adjusting the mixture and utilizing the fuel boost pump. Unable to restart the engine, he maneuvered the airplane to a nearby airport and extended the landing gear, then realized the airplane could not glide to the airport, so he retracted the landing gear. He then elected to make a forced landing to a field and extended the landing gear. The airplane landed in the field and continued into a tree line where it came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edges of both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the fuel tanks by the pilot revealed that the left tank was empty and the right tank was about ¾ full. The pilot stated that the left tank was utilized for the entire flight and that he did not switch fuel tanks.
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
- Fuel related during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,996 hours in all; 4,824 in this make and model; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 15, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2026; 0.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 6,128 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGQ Lansing IL at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 4:21 pm from KC09, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KC09 152121Z AUTO 18014KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2983 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Site
Photograph 2 – Airplane Damage
Photograph 3 – Left Wing Fuel Check
Photograph 4 – Left Wing Fuel CheckThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2026. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Accident Details | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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.