What happened
On October 17, 2024, at approximately 14:30 central daylight time, a Mooney M20K, registration N231MW, was involved in an accident near Elizabeth, Louisiana. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for a personal flight.
Following a bounced landing, the pilot attempted a go-around. During this maneuver, the engine experienced a loss of partial power. Witnesses at the scene reported that the engine sound indicated it was not producing full power. As a result, the aircraft descended into a tree line at the end of the runway, striking several trees. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted position approximately four feet above the ground.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. The impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.