U-FITAQP: 21) THE IMPOSSIBLE TURN

Mooney M20F | N9546M

Titusville, Florida

  • DTSB analysis published
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Key facts

  • DateSeptember 7, 2026
  • Local time10:15 AM
  • LightDay
  • WeatherVMC
  • Phase of flightTakeoff
  • People on board1
  • Fatalities1
  • AirportKTIX

Accident Location

City, State
Titusville, Florida
Latitude
28.528306
Longitude
-80.798163
Airport ID
KTIX

Aircraft Info

N Number
N9546M
Make
Mooney
Model
M20F
Category / Class
Aircraft Single Engine Land
Amateur Built
No

Pilot Info

Pilot in command
Hood, Michael Timothy
Gender
Male
Age
75
Certification
Private Pilot
IFR rating
No
Medical
Basic Med
Flight school
No
Instructional flight
No

Analysis

Weather
VMC
Time of day
Day
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Pilot error
Yes
Pilot incapacitation
No
People on board
1
PIC fatality
1
Total fatalities
1
NTSB travel
Unknown

Probable Cause

THE DTSB

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot departed from runway 36 and encountered an engine failure after lift off, and did attempt an aggressive left hand turn back towards the airport. In the process of the turn the aircraft was aerodynamically stalled, whereupon the aircraft impacted nearly vertically into power lines and terrain, with the left wing low.

NTSB

None yet (final report not yet published).

Recommendation

THE DTSB

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves for engine abnormals that can occur during or after takeoff, and that each pilot should be able to lower the nose and fly straight ahead to an off field landing.