Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K accident near Henderson, Nevada, July 3, 2025
On July 3, 2025 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1985 Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, registered N66JG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Henderson, Nevada (Henderson Exec airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around, resulting in a collision with a runway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2025 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Henderson Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney Aircraft CORP. M20K, built 1985
- Registration
- N66JG · registry record · serial 25-0866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after the cross-country flight, he made a normal approach to the runway. Just prior to maneuvering the airplane into the landing flare, the pilot attempted to add a small amount of engine power to cushion the touchdown. The airplane did not respond as he expected, resulting in the airplane bouncing on the runway. The pilot opted to execute a go-around and attempted to add power. He again thought there was not as much thrust as he expected and the airplane approached a stall. He was unable to maintain the runway centerline and the airplane drifted to the right. The airplane struck a runway sign and came to rest in a dirt area adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 314 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 381 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 13, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 2025; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-NB (piston); 1,834 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVU Provo UT at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L/, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from KLAS, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 26, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 WPR25LA202.