What happened
On June 19, 2025, at 08:46 EDT, a Mooney M20F, registration N9573M, was involved in a fatal accident near Beverly, Massachusetts. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The aircraft departed runway 16 at Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY).
Shortly after becoming airborne, the engine began backfiring and brown smoke was seen trailing beneath the aircraft. The pilot transmitted a garbled message over the tower frequency, after which air traffic control cleared the pilot to land on any available runway. The aircraft initially banked right toward runway 27 before banking left and descending behind a tree line. Radar data indicated the last return occurred at 08:46:55, at an altitude of 110 feet above ground level (agl) with a ground speed of 65 knots.
A witness, a flight instructor at the airport, observed the aircraft experience a significant reduction in power at approximately 150 feet agl while halfway down the runway. The witness noted that while power appeared to partially return, a subsequent significant reduction in power occurred during a left turn. The aircraft then descended in what appeared to be a stalled state behind the trees.
The aircraft impacted a grass berm next to a two-lane road with its left wing, crossed the road, and struck a light pole, where it came to rest. There was 2 fatal injury count and no post-impact fire.