Mooney M20J accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, September 21, 2018
On September 21, 2018 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1977 Mooney M20J, registered N66201, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kapolei, Hawaii (Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field)). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to water in the fuel lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2018 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Kapolei, Hawaii · Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J No Series, built 1977 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N66201 · no longer on the register · serial 24-0386
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, during the pre-flight, a small amount of water was drained from the left fuel tank; no water was noted in the sample from the right tank. Following the departure on the instructional flight, the CFI and the pilot receiving instruction conducted several maneuvers before practicing touch-and-go landings; fuel tanks were regularly switched throughout the flight. During the sixth takeoff, with the landing gear and flaps retracted, at about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane, switched fuel tanks, and attempted to troubleshoot the engine, but he was unsuccessful. He initiated a forced landing to the runway with the landing gear in the UP position to avoid rolling into unknown grassy terrain. During the postaccident examination, some water was drained from the left fuel tank. The right fuel tank was free of water. The fuel collected from the fuel line going into the fuel injectors also contained some water. The propeller was rotated manually, and the continuity was established throughout the engine. No mechanical issues with the engine were noted at the time. It is likely the engine lost power due to water in the fuel.
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 contamination during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,954 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,071 as pilot in command; 1,662 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: September 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,441 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-A3B6DFF (piston); 1,204 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Academy Hawaii
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI
- Destination: JRF Kapolei HI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22L, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from PHNA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2021. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Private Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.