Incident Overview
On April 12, 2025, at 1010 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registration N5807T, sustained substantial damage during a landing in a field near Edinburg, Texas. The private pilot and two passengers on board were uninjured. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a personal flight and was reported as an Angel Flight.
Flight Sequence
The accident flight originated from Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) in Sugar Land, Texas, with the intention of picking up two passengers and continuing to Mc Allen International Airport (MFE) in Mc Allen, Texas. While descending approximately 30 miles north of MFE, the pilot noticed a rapid increase in engine oil temperature, followed by a drop in engine oil pressure and engine roughness. In response, the pilot diverted the flight to South Texas International Airport at Edinburg, Edinburg, Texas.
Landing
The pilot attempted a precautionary landing at South Texas International Airport. However, due to a loss of engine power, the runway could not be reached, and the airplane was landed in a field short of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged and was retained for further examination.
No probable cause has been established from the available information.