Mooney M20E accident near Hornell, New York, April 26, 2024
On April 26, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1965 Mooney M20E, registered N5632Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Hornell, New York (Hornell Muni airport). 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 cabin fire as a result of a damaged lithium-ion battery pack.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hornell, New York · Hornell Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E, built 1965 · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N5632Q · no longer on the register · serial 672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot intended to depart his home airport for another airport to perform an owner-assisted annual inspection. While loading the airplane with supplies, the pilot placed a portable ADS-B receiver on the top of his airplane. The ADS-B receiver utilized a commercially available portable lithium-ion battery pack for power, and the battery was attached to the receiver via a hook and loop fastening. The receiver and battery pack fell from the top of the airplane onto the ramp which resulted in damage to the receiver and battery pack. The pilot attempted to power up the receiver but noted that the receiver was no longer working; he then placed the receiver and battery pack behind the front seats and underneath an airplane cover. The pilot subsequently taxied and began his runup of the engine, during which the pilot noted smoke coming from behind the front seats. The pilot lifted the airplane cover and saw that a fire had started. The pilot exited the airplane and unsuccessfully attempted to remove the airplane cover, which was on fire. The fire eventually consumed most of the cockpit area (including the battery pack itself) and substantially damaged both wings. Based on this information, it is likely that the portable lithium-ion battery pack sustained damage to at least one of the battery cells when it was dropped onto the ramp, resulting in thermal runaway of the battery pack and subsequent fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway)
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Battery/charger › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 534 hours in all; 154 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 534 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,135.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 2023; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 2,187 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HTF Hornell NY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: IUA Canandaigua NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from DSV, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDSV 261554Z AUTO 17009G15KT 10SM CLR 16/M06 A3040 RMK AO2 SLP305 T01561056=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 21, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Questions to Pilot | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum - Pilot Statement to the FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.