# Accident 20260417008029A: Mooney M20J, Ironton, OH, April 17, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2026, 14:16 local time
- Place: Ironton, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5725° N, 82.8085° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5725&lon=-82.8085&mi=10
- Aircraft: N205MK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N205MK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 875 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26FA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260417008029A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 17, 2026, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MOONEY M20J DEPARTED UNDER VFR CONDITIONS FROM ASHLAND, KY (KDWU) ENROUTE TO SALINA, KS (KSAL) FROM RUNWAY 28.

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REACH PATTERN ALTITUDE, MAINTAINING RUNWAY HEADING THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTURE. AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST (ADS-B) DATA CONFIRMS THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT EXCEED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL DURING THE FLIGHT.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE CANOPY OF A TREE LINE ROUGHLY 3.5 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL GROUND IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH ADDITIONAL TREES, RESULTING IN A POST-IMPACT FIRE. APPROXIMATELY SIX (6) INCHES OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE MISSING ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FOUR (24) INCHES OF THE RUDDER. THIS DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A POWER LINE STRIKE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST OPERATED SIXTEEN (16) HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS REFUELED. RECORDS FROM THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR (FBO) SHOW THAT FUEL TANK FILTERS WERE REPLACED TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION. A CROSS-CONTAMINATION CHECK WAS ALSO PERFORMED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS.

EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, AND RELATED COMPONENTS IS PENDING.

## 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 ERA26FA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA178), Apr 17, 2026: Mooney M20J (N205MK), Ironton, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N205MK (1)

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

- [Incident 20191013017459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191013017459I), Oct 13, 2019: Mooney M20J (N205MK), Nashville, TN, Minor damage. [privacy data omitted] States that on 10/13/2019 he was the pilot and sole occupant on N205MK as he departed kmbt murfreesboro, TN. Airport at approximately…

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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