# NTSB CEN25LA228: Mooney M20M, N5287S, Ben Bolt, TX, June 30, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 30, 2025, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Ben Bolt, TX - Coordinates: 27.548848, -98.029028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5488&lon=-98.0290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200432/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200432 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA228 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5870222), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that storms were approaching as the airplane approached the airport. After crossing the arrival end of the runway, the pilot heard a wind shift while listening to the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). He attempted a crosswind landing, the airplane bounced twice, and he attempted a go-around. The pilot noticed a positive rate of climb on the airplane’s altimeter, and he retracted the landing gear. The airplane then pitched up, yawed left, and the pilot attempted to level the wings using aileron and rudder, however the airplane would not respond to the pilot’s control inputs. The airplane impacted terrain and slid across the grass into a tree resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, engine mount, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane and that he lost control due to the strong wind and the initial bounced landing attempt. The pilot reported the wind to be variable at 13 to 20 kts at the time of the accident. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for landing with the airplane is 13 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5287S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5287S), registered now, S/N 27-0244 (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: 27-0244 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Lycoming Engines TIO-540 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: N5287s LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AFW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: IKG, Kingsville, TX - Airport: IKG, Kleberg County, runway 13/31, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 299 total, 23 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KIKG - METAR: KIKG 301455Z AUTO 06005KT 10SM CLR 27/24 A3001 RMK AO2 T02710235,M ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250630007769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250630007769A), Jun 30, 2025: Mooney M20M, Kingsville, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft porpoised during hard landing. Pilot attempted go-around, aircraft drifted to the left of runway heading, coming to a heading of ~98° toward a tree… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200432. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19299168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_N5287S_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19299718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5287S%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19299178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Crosswind information (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19303637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=crosswind-Rel.pdf - POH excerpt - max demonstrated crosswind velocity (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19303234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maximum%20Demonstrated%20Crosswind%20Velocity%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.