Mooney M20J accident near Union, South Carolina, April 17, 2026
On April 17, 2026 at about 9:50 pm local time, a 1981 Mooney M20J, registered N1151H, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Union, South Carolina (Union County, Troy Shelton Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- April 17, 2026 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Union, South Carolina · Union County, Troy Shelton Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1981 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1151H · registry record · serial 24-1225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 17, 2026, about 1750 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N1151H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Union, South Carolina. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of preliminary ADS-B data revealed that during cruise flight about 1 hour and 13 minutes into the cross-country flight, the airplane diverted south and landed on runway 5 at Union County Airport (35A), Troy Shelton Field, Union, South Carolina. Surveillance video from the airport security system showed the accident airplane taxi to the airport fuel pumps after landing. The occupants disembarked and the pilot refueled the airplane. About 30 minutes after landing, the occupants boarded the airplane and then taxied to the departure end of runway 23. A few minutes later another video captured the airplane during climbout about 1,000 ft from the departure end of runway 23, about 200 ft above ground level. The airplane banked right then quickly rolled left and descended behind trees. Subsequently, a plume of smoke rose from the trees. No one was reported to have witnessed the accident flight. The accident site was located in wooded and hilly terrain about 1,270 ft from the departure end of runway 23. The accident site was at an elevation of about 520 ft mean sea level (msl) and on a magnetic heading of about 223° from the departure end of runway 23. The debris field was on slightly sloping terrain and all of the wreckage remained within a radius of about 40 ft from the main wreckage. The majority of the wreckage was consumed by postimpact fire. All primary flight controls were observed during the accident site examination. Small portions of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were observed attached to the empennage, which exhibited excessive thermal damage and remained attached to the main wreckage. The wreckage was relocated 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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,322.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 17, 2025
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Mooney N1151H LLC
The flight
- Destination: K49A Ellijay GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05/2, 3,508 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KLUX, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLUX 172135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/05 A2997 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.