Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

January 3, 2024 · Mooney M20K · N231GG

Tullahoma, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 3, 2024
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tullahoma, TN
Aircraft
Mooney M20K (1979)
Tail Number
N231GG
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA24LA082

Shortly after takeoff, during a cruise climb about 2,000 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power without any warning. The pilot attempted to glide the airplane back to the departure airport and restart the engine; however, the engine did not restart and the airplane impacted hilly terrain about 1/2-mile before reaching the runway. The engine’s most recent overhaul was about 30 years before the accident, and it accrued about 692 hours during that time. Additionally, the airplane had not been flown for more than 2 years before the accident flight. The pilot did not purchase fuel and the age of the fuel in the airplane could not be determined. During wreckage recovery, about 16 gallons of fuel (8 gallons per side) were drained from the airplane’s fuel tanks. The fuel was blue, clear, and consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline. No visible contamination was observed. Subsequent examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies, with the exception of an inoperative right magneto; however, that did not explain a total loss of engine power without any engine roughness.

NTSB Probable Cause

Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined

Full Narrative

On January 3, 2024, about 1226 central standard time, a Mooney M20K, N231GG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the airplane and the accident flight was his first flight in the airplane. The accident flight was also the first flight since the airplane’s most recent annual inspection, which was completed the same day. No anomalies were noted during the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and engine run-up. The airplane took off uneventfully from runway 36 at Tullahoma Regional Airport (THA), Tullahoma, Tennessee. The pilot made a right turn southeast for the 20-mile flight back to his home airport, Franklin Country Airport (UOS), Sewanee, Tennessee. The pilot had planned to climb to 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl) for the short flight home. About 3,200 ft msl (2,000 above ground level), the engine suddenly lost all power without any warning. At that time, the airplane was about 4 miles from THA and the pilot turned back to the airport in an attempt to glide to runway 24. He also tried to restart the engine; however, the starter motor would not rotate the propeller. The pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway, and it impact hilly terrain about 1/2-mile before reaching the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest upright. Both wings and the empennage sustained substantial damage. Review of maintenance records revealed that the engine had accumulated about 692 hours since its most recent overhaul in 1994. The engine manufacturer recommended overhaul at 1,500 hours of operation or 12 calendar years, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the airplane had not been flown during the 26-month period before the accident flight. The pilot did not purchase fuel before the accident flight and stated that the fuel onboard could have been 2 years old or older. During recovery, about 16 gallons of fuel (8 gallons per tank) were drained from the airplane’s fuel tanks. The fuel was blue, clear, and consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline. No visible contamination was observed. The engine was examined following recovery of the airplane. The top spark plugs were removed. Their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. The propeller was rotated by hand. Crankshaft, camshaft, and valvetrain continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. The left magneto produced spark at all leads when rotated by hand. The right magneto would not produce spark when rotated by hand. It was disassembled and no anomalies were noted with the points or rotor. The fuel sump and screen were absent of debris.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:26 CST
Nearest AirportTullahoma Regional Airport (1nm ENE)
Runway24
Runway Length5501 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20K
Tail NumberN231GG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-GB-1 · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 F / 30 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:26
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data