# NTSB WPR26LA197: Mooney M20J, N4665H, Lake Havasu City, AZ, May 14, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 14, 2026, 15:23 local (22:23 UTC)
- Place: Lake Havasu City, AZ · airport environment
- Coordinates: 34.571124, -114.35827 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5711&lon=-114.3583&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Lycoming
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA197
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203032/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA197

## Preliminary report

On May 14, 2026, at 1523, a Mooney M20J, N4665H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the flight had departed from Flagstaff, Arizona, following an annual inspection. The flight was destined for San Diego, with a fuel stop at Lake Havasu City Airport (HII), Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The flight was uneventful and they landed at HII without incident. The airplane was topped off with about 25 gallons and as they taxied away from the self-serve fuel station, the engine began to “run rough, sputter, and was missing.” The pilot did a run up to full rpm to clear the engine and then decided to park the airplane at a nearby FBO and asked a mechanic for some assistance; however, the mechanic did not inspect the airframe or engine. The pilot stated that he sumped both fuel tanks and saw no debris or anything unusual in the fuel. He contacted his mechanic and relayed that the engine was running rough. He performed another run-up and it “smoothed out” when he leaned the engine. The pilot decided to continue the flight and departed to their destination. During the takeoff initial climb from runway 14, about 200 ft above ground level (agl) the engine was not producing enough power to maintain altitude, and he elected to make a turn back to the runway to land. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was recovered to a secure storage facility.

## 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 M20J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4665H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4665H), registered now, S/N 24-0803, built 1979 (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: 24-0803
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3772.88
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Winrick LLC
- Registered owner: Winrick LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2026
- Airport: HII, Lake Havasu City, runway 14/32, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observed at: KHII
- METAR: METAR KHII 142255Z AUTO 22011G16KT 10SM CLR 36/M01 A2975 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 20260514005349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260514005349A), May 14, 2026: Mooney M20J, Lake Havasu, AZ, Substantial damage. A [privacy data omitted] departed flagstaff airport (kflg) en route to yosemite airport (kmyf) with one pilot and two passengers onboard. The flight made 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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