What happened
On November 24, 2024, a Mooney M20J, registration N58156, crashed into wooded, mountainous terrain near Windham, New York. The flight departed from Harford County Airport (0W3) in Churchville, Maryland, at approximately 16:40, en route to Albany International Airport (ALB).
Prior to the accident, the pilot was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) and receiving flight following services from air traffic control. The pilot reported experiencing moderate to heavy turbulence while at an altitude of 5,000 feet. After descending to approximately 4,300 feet, the pilot reported that the turbulence had decreased to light or moderate levels; this was the final communication received from the aircraft.
ADS-B data indicates that the aircraft began a shallow descent from 5,000 feet at approximately 18:02. By 18:07, the aircraft had descended below 3,500 feet. The final ADS-B position recorded at 18:08 placed the aircraft at an altitude of 3,025 feet, which was within 100 feet of the elevation of the accident site. The aircraft impacted the terrain at an elevation of 3,090 feet, resulting in 1 fatality.
The investigation
The aircraft struck trees at an elevation of approximately 30 feet above the ground. The impact caused the wings to separate from the fuselage, with portions of the left aileron and wing found in nearby trees. The primary wreckage, including the engine, propeller, fuselage, and empennage, was located along an 80-foot wreckage path. The empennage remained attached to the fuselage, though the horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained impact damage. All major components of the aircraft were accounted for at the site, and the wreckage was retained for examination.