# NTSB WPR26FA160: Mooney M20J, N1151H, Union, SC, April 17, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: April 17, 2026, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Union, SC
- Coordinates: 34.682317, -81.647001
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6823&lon=-81.6470&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA160
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA160

## Preliminary report

On April 17, 2026, about 1750 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N1151H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Union, South Carolina. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of preliminary ADS-B data revealed that during cruise flight about 1 hour and 13 minutes into the cross-country flight, the airplane diverted south and landed on runway 5 at Union County Airport (35A), Troy Shelton Field, Union, South Carolina. Surveillance video from the airport security system showed the accident airplane taxi to the airport fuel pumps after landing. The occupants disembarked and the pilot refueled the airplane. About 30 minutes after landing, the occupants boarded the airplane and then taxied to the departure end of runway 23. A few minutes later another video captured the airplane during climbout about 1,000 ft from the departure end of runway 23, about 200 ft above ground level. The airplane banked right then quickly rolled left and descended behind trees. Subsequently, a plume of smoke rose from the trees. No one was reported to have witnessed the accident flight. The accident site was located in wooded and hilly terrain about 1,270 ft from the departure end of runway 23. The accident site was at an elevation of about 520 ft mean sea level (msl) and on a magnetic heading of about 223° from the departure end of runway 23. The debris field was on slightly sloping terrain and all of the wreckage remained within a radius of about 40 ft from the main wreckage. The majority of the wreckage was consumed by postimpact fire. All primary flight controls were observed during the accident site examination. Small portions of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were observed attached to the empennage, which exhibited excessive thermal damage and remained attached to the main wreckage. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1151H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1151H), registered now, S/N 24-1225, built 1981 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1225
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 3322.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mooney N1151h LLC
- Registered owner: Mooney N1151h LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 17, 2025
- Destination: K49A, Ellijay, GA
- Airport: 35A, Union County, Troy Shelton Fld, runway 05/23, 3,508 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KLUX, 19 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLUX 172135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/05 A2997 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 20260417006199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260417006199A), Apr 17, 2026: Mooney M20J, Union, SC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Airplane taxied to the departure end of runway 23 and soon departed. A video captured the airplane shortly after departure about 1,000 ft from the departure…

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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