Mooney M20J accident near Woodlake, California, May 23, 2026
On May 23, 2026 at about 5:34 pm local time, a 1978 Mooney M20J, registered N4452H, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Woodlake, California (Woodlake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 23, 2026 · about 5:34 pm local time
- Place
- Woodlake, California · Woodlake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1978 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N4452H · registry record · serial 24-0738
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 23, 2026, about 1034 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4452H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Woodlake, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 personal flight. According to an acquaintance of the pilot who met him at the airport, the pilot and a friend flew into the airport in a different airplane. The pilot was there to ferry the airplane to his home airport after it had undergone maintenance. After refueling his airplane, the pilot departed and immediately returned and landed. The pilot reported to his acquaintance and his friend that one of the cylinders was running hotter than the other three by about 100°F. He also remarked to both parties that he had leaned the fuel during the first flight and would try running the engine at full rich during his next flight. The pilot started the engine and departed a second time and the pilot’s friend subsequently departed the airport. While about 1,000 ft above ground level, the friend observed the Mooney at a very low altitude. He then witnessed the Mooney bank sharply to the right, which was followed by an abrupt left turn and sparks before the airplane impacted the ground. A witness, who was leaving a self-storage facility, observed the airplane travelling west towards the airport. The witness stated that the airplane was at a low altitude, similar to a crop duster, when it turned right, climbed and then flipped over and went straight down. The witness drove to the accident site and saw a postaccident fire. The airplane came to rest upright in a ditch that was between an asphalt street and an orchard. The airplane was on a heading of about 212° magnetic at an elevation of about 531 ft mean sea level (msl). The first point of probable impact (FPPI) was about 40 ft from the main wreckage, in the middle of the street where the propeller spinner was located and flattened. A debris path with shards of acrylic and small bits of sheet metal extended from the FPPI to the main wreckage. A postaccident fire destroyed most of the fuselage and wings. The empennage was also thermally damaged. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examinations.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: APV Apple Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 2,203 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from KVIS, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVIS 231656Z AUTO 20003KT 10SM CLR 22/11 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP120 T02220106 $
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.