20260514005349A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mooney M20J · Lake Havasu, AZ · May 14, 2026

Date: May 14, 2026 · 14:26 local
Place: Lake Havasu, AZ
Airport: Lake Havasu City
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4665H
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR26LA197
Reported as: Mooney M20J
Reported engine: Lycoming I0360 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,215 total

N4665HRegistered now · Mooney M20JS/N 24-0803 · Built 1979 Airframe modelMooney M20J Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

A privacy data omitted departed flagstaff airport (kflg) en route to yosemite airport (kmyf) with one pilot and two passengers onboard. The flight made a fuel stop at Lake Havasu City Airport (khii). After fueling the pilot reported sumping both fuel tanks and completing the engine run-up. They departed with approximately 42 gallons onboard.

During departure, the pilot reported the aircraft exhibited sluggish climb performance and was unable to maintain altitude. Unable to identify a suitable landing area ahead, the pilot attempted to return toward the airport. The pilot subsequently conducted a gear-up landing in the vicinity of runway 14.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries.

The investigation remains ongoing and this report may be amended as additional information becomes available.

As the FAA filed it

A ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED FLAGSTAFF AIRPORT (KFLG) EN ROUTE TO YOSEMITE AIRPORT (KMYF) WITH ONE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS ONBOARD. THE FLIGHT MADE A FUEL STOP AT LAKE HAVASU CITY AIRPORT (KHII). AFTER FUELING THE PILOT REPORTED SUMPING BOTH FUEL TANKS AND COMPLETING THE ENGINE RUN-UP. THEY DEPARTED WITH APPROXIMATELY 42 GALLONS ONBOARD.

DURING DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT EXHIBITED SLUGGISH CLIMB PERFORMANCE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A SUITABLE LANDING AREA AHEAD, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY CONDUCTED A GEAR-UP LANDING IN THE VICINITY OF RUNWAY 14.

THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING AND THIS REPORT MAY BE AMENDED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR26LA197Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportLake Havasu City, AZOn May 14, 2026, at 1523, a Mooney M20J, N4665H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal…May 14, 2026 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4665H · 1

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

Incident 19890328014569ILevel Off Touchdown · Westerly, RILanded gear up. Pilot stated he had done gump check. Heard no horn. Horn inoperative. Pilot was fatigued.Mar 28, 1989 · Minor damage