# NTSB CEN26LA189: Mooney M20J, N201QM, Morris, IL, May 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 15, 2026, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Morris, IL · 41.43633N / 88.41901W - Coordinates: 41.43633, -88.41901 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4363&lon=-88.4190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203009/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203009 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before the local flight, the pilot confirmed the left fuel tank was about ¼ full and the right fuel tank was about ¾ full of fuel. About 30 to 40 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by adjusting the mixture and utilizing the fuel boost pump. Unable to restart the engine, he maneuvered the airplane to a nearby airport and extended the landing gear, then realized the airplane could not glide to the airport, so he retracted the landing gear. He then elected to make a forced landing to a field and extended the landing gear. The airplane landed in the field and continued into a tree line where it came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edges of both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the fuel tanks by the pilot revealed that the left tank was empty and the right tank was about ¾ full. The pilot stated that the left tank was utilized for the entire flight and that he did not switch fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201QM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N201QM), registered now, S/N 24-0339, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0339 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nordica Group Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2026, 0.7 hours before - Departed: IGQ, Lansing, IL - Airport: C09, runway 18, 5,501 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,996 total, 4,824 in this make and model, 9 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: KC09, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KC09 152121Z AUTO 18014KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2983 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260515006559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260515006559A), May 15, 2026: Mooney M20J, Morris, IL, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2026, at approximately 4:00 pm local time, a commercial pilot operating a Mooney M20J departed Morris municipal airport C09, for a local… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203009. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20454703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20and%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� accident details (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20450364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20NTSB%20DO%20and%20Pilot%20Details_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20450302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.