# Accident 20250411004329A: Mooney M20F, Reliance, TN, April 11, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 11, 2025, 14:03 local time
- Place: Reliance, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2634° N, 84.5035° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2634&lon=-84.5035&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7026V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7026V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320-A1A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 41,644 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25FA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250411004329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM KCHA AT 17:44Z ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO KBUY WITH 3 SOULS ON BOARD. 2 RATED PILOTS AND 1 PASSENGER.

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ITS FILED CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 7000FT, REACHING THAT ALTITUDE AT 17:55Z.

AT APPROXIMATELY 18:02:24Z, THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT BEGAN A RIGHT HAND TURN, WHICH RAPIDLY DEGRADED INTO A CLOCKWISE SPIRALING DECENT FROM 7000FT MSL TO 3475FT MSL. THIS INITIAL DESCENT WAS ARRESTED AT 18:04:45Z. THE ACCIDENT AIRFRAFT BEGAN A SLIGHT CLIMB TO 3675FT MSL, BEFORE BEGINNING ANOTHER RIGHT HAND TURN, WHICH AGAIN RAPIDLY DEGRADED INTO A NEAR-VERTICAL DIVE THAT LED TO IMPACT WITH TERRAIN.

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT A NEAR COMPLETE NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE, AND ON A NEAR-VERTICAL IMPACT ANGLE, IMPACTING AT APPROXIMATELY 18:03Z AT THE BASE OF A PINE TREE ON THE NORTH SLOPE OF CHESTNUTT MOUNTAIN IN THE GEE CREEK WILDERNESS AT 1700FT MSL. ALL 3 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED. TREE SCARS AND IMPACT SIGNATURE ON THE RIGHT WING SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION. NO POST CRASH FIRE RESULTED.

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AND MAKING POWER, AS EVIDENCED BY SIGNATURE ON THE PROPELLERS, AND EVIDENCE COLLECTED DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN BY LYCOMING. THE COCKPIT AND

FORWARD CABIN IMPACTED DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS CAME TO REST ON TOP OF THE COCKPIT AND FORWARD CABIN. THE AFT CABIN SECTION, TAILCONE, AND EMPANNAGE CAME TO REST ALONG A 20 FOOT LONG PATH TO THE WEST OF THE MAIN IMPACT POINT.

THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS, RUDDER, AND ELEVATORS ALL SHOWED SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH OVERLOAD FAILURE, AND THOSE COMPONENTS WERE FOUND IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE GREATER AREA OF THE CRASH SITE, FROM 30 TO 200 FEET AWAY FROM THE MAIN PORTION OF WRECKAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25FA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA126), Apr 11, 2025: Mooney M20F (N7026V), Reliance, TN, substantial damage, 3 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N7026V (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19920314006369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920314006369A), Mar 14, 1992: Mooney M20 (N7026V), Manchester, NH, Substantial damage. Landing gear collapsed.
- [Incident 19820423022969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820423022969I), Apr 23, 1982: Mooney M20F (N7026V), Manassas, VA, Minor damage. Wing tip struck parked aircraft while taxiing on crowded ramp.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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