# NTSB CEN26LA063: Mooney M20E, N9081V, Gonzales, LA, December 16, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 16, 2025, 09:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Gonzales, LA - Coordinates: 30.173063, -90.941498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1731&lon=-90.9415&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202172/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202172 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper pitch control that resulted in a hard landing, and his improper recovery from multiple bounced landings. Contributing to the accident was the safety pilot’s delayed response to the initial bounced landing which led to the runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and his safety pilot were conducting a proficiency flight for insurance purposes. According to the pilot, he began the landing flare too high and the airplane bounced when the main wheels touched down. The safety pilot reported that he monitored the pilot’s remedial action to the bounced landing. According to the safety pilot, the pilot increased airplane pitch but did not increase engine power which resulted in a second bounced landing. The safety pilot then took over the flight controls and advanced the throttle to maximum rpm. The safety pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control and the airplane touched down a third time, veered left, passed through a fence, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the horizontal stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the safety pilot stated that the accident might have been prevented had he taken over controls and/or called for an aborted landing sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9081V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9081V), registered now, S/N 690015, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 690015 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5852 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rm Av-Med Consulting LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2025 - Departed: BTR, Baton Rouge, LA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: REG, Louisiana Regional, runway 35, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 706.9 total, 46.4 in this make and model, 587.2 as pilot in command, 3.6 in the last 90 days, 0.5 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,665 total, 447 in this make and model, 1,426 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20.7 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KREG - METAR: METAR KREG 161535Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/00 A3030 RMK AO2 T00821003 ## 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 20251216019789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251216019789A), Dec 16, 2025: Mooney M20E, Gonzales, LA, Substantial damage. On December 16th, 2025, the pilot attempted a landing at kreg, Louisiana Regional Airport in Gonzales, LA. The pilot had to perform a "go around" on the first… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202172. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19972894&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (safety pilot) (item 2, PDF, 12 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19972752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20PF%20print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19974137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.