# NTSB ANC26LA070: Mooney M20M, N488AT, Tallahassee, FL, July 8, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 8, 2026, 11:48 local (15:48 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.416168, -84.359095 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4162&lon=-84.3591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203362
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA070
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203362/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA070

## Preliminary report

On July 8, 2026, at 1148 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tallahassee, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had recently been sold, and he had been hired to ferry it from Florida to Texas. Prior to the flight, a known mechanical issue existed with the No. 5 cylinder. During the flight, the engine began surging, prompting the pilot to divert to Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida. While on the approach to TLH, about 1,000 feet mean sea level, all engine power was lost. The airplane subsequently impacted heavily wooded terrain about one-half mile short of Runway 18. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the scene, about 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the wreckage following the accident. The airplane and engine have been recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N488AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N488AT), registered now, S/N 27-0088, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20M
- Registry model: [Mooney M20M](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (registry code 5870222) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-0088
- Year built: 1991
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Sizemore Proper LLC
- Registered owner: Sizemore Proper LLC
- Airport: TLH, Tallahassee Intl

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KTLH, 1 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KTLH 081514Z 24007KT 10SM BKN031 32/24 A3013 RMK AO2 T03170239

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.

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