Mooney M20J accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 31, 2026
On May 31, 2026 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1978 Mooney M20J, registered N555ED, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2026 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1978 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N555ED · registry record · serial 24-0684
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 31, 2026, at 1515 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N555ED, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight was a post-maintenance test flight conducted at Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico, following completion of the airplane's annual inspection. Following a preflight inspection, the pilot departed with the intention of performing three stop-and-go landings. The first two landings on runway 22 were uneventful. The pilot reported that engine indications remained normal throughout the flight and that all flight controls operated as expected. During the third landing, while on short final approach, the pilot stated that all parameters appeared normal; however, the airplane unexpectedly impacted the runway. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway onto the adjacent grass surface and came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The airplane was retained 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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2026; 115.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from KAEG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAEG 312050Z 20006G15KT 10SM CLR 28/M09 A3009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
Other NTSB records under N555ED the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 WPR26LA214.