Mooney M20K accident near Fostoria, Ohio, August 20, 2023
On August 20, 2023 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1981 Mooney M20K, registered N1152K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fostoria, Ohio. 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
A loss of engine power for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2023 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fostoria, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K NO SERIES, built 1981 · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1152K · registry record · serial 25-0626
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climb out following a practice landing approach, the pilot heard a “mechanical noise” and the engine began to intermittently cut out, then stopped producing power entirely. The pilot was unable to return to the runway and made a forced landing to a soybean field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Data downloaded from the onboard engine data monitor indicated a brief increase in manifold and fuel pressure before the loss of engine power. A postaccident examination of the fuel system, fuel-injected engine, and ignition system revealed no evidence of any mechanical issues or deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine at the time of the accident. As such, the investigation was not able to determine why the engine lost power.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,271 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,525 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-LB (piston); 4,525 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TDZ Toledo OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: TDZ Toledo OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KFDY, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFDY 201953Z AUTO 23008KT 10SM SCT038 BKN048 29/22 A3007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA23LA344.