Mooney M20F accident near Reliance, Tennessee, April 11, 2025
On April 11, 2025 at about 6:02 pm local time, a 1976 Mooney M20F, registered N7026V, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Reliance, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed.
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
- April 11, 2025 · about 6:02 pm local time
- Place
- Reliance, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F, built 1976 · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7026V · registry record · serial 22-1373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 11, 2025, about 1402 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N7026V, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Reliance, Tennessee. The pilot, pilot-rated passenger and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed Lovell Field Airport (CHA), Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 1345, with an intended destination of Burlington/ Alamance Regional Airport (BUY), Burlington, North Carolina. Shortly after departure, the airplane turned to the northeast towards Ocoee-Cherokee National Forest. About 13 minutes after departure, radar contact was lost, and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued about 3 minutes later (see figure 1). The wreckage was located by local fire and rescue about 2 hours the ALNOT was issued. Figure 1: Preliminary ADS-B data plotted on Google Earth overlay Witnesses at Chilhowee Glider Port (9A2), Benton, Tennessee, which is located about five nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported that they encountered strong, gusting winds about one hour prior to the accident. They stated that they were compelled to park multiple aircraft and observed debris and garbage blowing across their runway. Additionally, they stated that a “weather cell” with precipitation was observed in the general vicinity of the accident site about the time of the accident. The airplane impacted heavily wooded terrain about 38 nautical miles northeast of CHA, at an elevation of about 1,760 ft msl. The first point of contact was identified by broken pine limbs and tree strikes. The wreckage came to rest on sloped terrain, in between white pine trees. The engine, propeller, both wings, fuselage, and empennage were found within the main wreckage which spanned about 60 ft by 30 ft. The fuselage and cockpit area were fragmented. The left wing was separated at the wing root and came to rest about five ft from the fuselage. The right wing came to rest against a tree above the engine and propeller, which were embedded within terrain. Both elevators were separated from the horizontal stabilizers and located within about 400 ft of the main wreckage. The left elevator was torn into 2 pieces, and the right was torn into 3 pieces. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility 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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Clear Ayr LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CHA Chatanooga TN at 5:45 pm
- Destination: BUY Burlington NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 210° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCHA 102153Z 21016KT 10SM -TSRA SCT065CB SCT080 BKN100 BKN250 17/08 A2997 RMK AO2 PK WND 30035/2106 SLP146 RAB08E19B43 TSB16 OCNL LTGIC SE-S TS SE-S MOV SE P0000 T01720083=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.