Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20J near Albuquerque, NM — 2026-05-31

Investigation ongoingWPR26LA214
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Date
2026-05-31
Location
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Airport
AEG
Aircraft
MOONEY M20J
Registration
N555ED
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On May 31, 2026, at 1515 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N555ED, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight was a post-maintenance test flight conducted at Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico, following completion of the airplane's annual inspection. Following a preflight inspection, the pilot departed with the intention of performing three stop-and-go landings. The first two landings on runway 22 were uneventful. The pilot reported that engine indications remained normal throughout the flight and that all flight controls operated as expected. During the third landing, while on short final approach, the pilot stated that all parameters appeared normal; however, the airplane unexpectedly impacted the runway. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway onto the adjacent grass surface and came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The airplane was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of control in flight · Approach-VFR pattern final
View NTSB preliminary report

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