# NTSB CEN25LA386: Mooney M20K, N305EP, Pearland, TX, September 16, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 16, 2025, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Pearland, TX
- Coordinates: 29.521278, -95.242139
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5213&lon=-95.2421&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA SAT FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201028
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA386
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201028/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA386

## Preliminary report

On September 16, 2025, about 1040 central daylight time, a Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, N305EP was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Pearland Regional Airport, Pearland, Texas. The pilot and certificated flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform an engine break-in after an engine replacement, and to perform a flight review as required by 14 CFR 61.56. He stated that the initial takeoff roll was consistent with expectations and rotation was achieved normally at he expected time and distance. After takeoff when the airplane was about 10-15 ft above ground level, the pilot noticed a reduction in engine power and airplane performance. He checked throttle, propeller, and mixture settings, and then he retarded and re-advanced the throttle with no change in engine performance. The airplane continued to lose airspeed; the pilot recognized that the airplane was going to impact the runway and he retarded the mixture to shut the engine off. He stated that during the takeoff attempt he did not notice any misfire or unusual shaking. He did not believe that the engine lost all power and continued to operate at reduced power until he retarded the mixture control. The airplane landed hard on the runway, the left main landing gear separated, and airplane slid off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N305EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N305EP), registered now, S/N 25-0656, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K
- Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-0656
- Year built: 1982
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 2025, 0 hours before
- Airport: LVJ, Pearland Rgnl, runway 14/32, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KLVJ
- METAR: METAR KLVJ 161553Z AUTO 07006KT 9SM CLR 30/21 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP205 T03000211=

## 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 20250916020869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250916020869A), Sep 16, 2025: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. During takeoff from Pearland Regional Airport, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power, resulting in a stall. The aircraft impacted the runway in a…

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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