ERA25FA187

On April 26, 2025, about 1147 central daylight time, a Mooney M20TN, N242RE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sparta, Tennessee. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14?Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Earlier that day the pilot flew from the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB), Sparta, Tennessee, to Shelby County Airport (EET), Alabaster, Alabama, where he landed, boarded 2 passengers and some cargo, then departed to return to SRB. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary air traffic control audio and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, after takeoff about 1039 the flight proceeded toward SRB while maintaining contact with several air traffic control facilities along the route of flight. Approaching SRB from the southwest, at 1136:55, the Sector 41 Radar Position controller of the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center instructed the pilot to cross the WENUB (intermediate fix/initial approach fix) at or above 4,000 ft and cleared the flight for the RNAV runway 4 approach to SRB. The flight continued direct to WENUB then turned to a northeast direction while flying toward SRB. At 1143:52, when the flight was about 6.2 nautical miles from the approach end of runway 4, the pilot cancelled his instrument flight rules clearance and informed the controller that the cloud bases were at 3,000 ft. Personnel at SRB reported hearing the pilot announce on the SRB common traffic advisory frequency that the flight was 11 miles and then 3 miles from SRB. There was no reported distress call made by the pilot. The flight continued direct towards SRB until 1146:56, after which time a slight deviation to the right occurred. A witness who was located about .3 nautical mile west-northwest of the accident site reported there was, “some kind of trouble the engine was cutting in and out like it was out of gas.” She observed the airplane was in level flight then diverted her attention and then heard the sound of a crash. During the final portion of the flight the airplane flew over a field with crop and impacted into trees and a creek about 1.5 nautical miles southwest from the approach end of runway 4. Initial examination of the engine revealed evidence of internal catastrophic malfunction. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod was fractured and not attached at either end. The No. 3 cylinder connecting rod journal did not display any evidence of lack of lubrication. The engine was retained for further examination. A Stratus 3 receiver was located in the wreckage and retained for read-out by the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division. Additionally, the shoulder harness airbag electronic module assembly, a portion of the pitch trim system and an annunciator panel were also retained for further examination.