Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K accident near Foley, Alabama, December 3, 2025
On December 3, 2025 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1983 Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, registered N57229, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Foley, Alabama (Bay Minette Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2025 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Foley, Alabama · Bay Minette Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, built 1983
- Registration
- N57229 · registry record · serial 25-0795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 3, 2025, about 1600 central standard time, a Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, N57229, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Foley, Alabama. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the flight departed from Holk Field at Foley Municipal Airport (5R4), Foley, Alabama, with 54 gallons of fuel. The pilot flew to the north at an altitude 4,500 ft mean sea level and conducted several practice maneuvers, including steep turns, before returning to the airport about 1 hour later. The pilot switched the fuel selector tank position twice (every 30 minutes) based on his Garmin timer and he switched the fuel selector position a third time on his way back to 5R4. Shortly thereafter, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane was too far north to reach the departure airport; the pilot diverted to Bay Minette Municipal Airport (1R8), Bay Minette, Alabama, set best glide speed (80 kts) and attempted to restart the engine by completing the “engine out” checklist. The pilot’s attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The airplane was unable to glide to 1R8, and the pilot performed an off-field landing to a farm pasture. During landing, the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence, which sheared the landing gear; it then landed on rough terrain where it skidded to a stop. The airplane’s wings were buckled and torn in multiple locations, and there was damage to the wing spar and underside of the fuselage. The two-bladed metal propeller exhibited no rotational damage. An FAA inspector recovered an engine data monitor that was sent to the NTSB recorders laboratory for download. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 290 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 5R4 Foley AL at 6:50 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from JKA, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJKA 032156Z 07004KT 10SM CLR 12/05 A3012
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.
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.