Accident Overview
On December 3, 2025, at approximately 1600 central standard time, a Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, registration N57229, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Foley, Alabama. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the flight departed from Holk Field at Foley Municipal Airport (5R4), Foley, Alabama, with 54 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot flew northbound and climbed to an altitude of 4,500 feet mean sea level. During the flight, the pilot performed several practice maneuvers, including steep turns. Approximately one hour after departure, the pilot began the return to 5R4.
The pilot reported switching the fuel selector tank position twice during the flight, each after 30 minutes as indicated by his Garmin timer. A third fuel selector change was made while en route back to the departure airport. Shortly after the third switch, the engine experienced a total loss of power.
Emergency Landing
Realizing that the airplane was too far north to return to Foley Municipal, the pilot diverted to Bay Minette Municipal Airport (1R8) in Bay Minette, Alabama. The pilot set the aircraft to its best glide speed of 80 knots and attempted to restart the engine by completing the "engine out" checklist. However, all attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful.
The airplane was unable to glide to Bay Minette Municipal Airport, and the pilot elected to perform an off-field landing in a farm pasture. During the landing, the aircraft impacted a barbed wire fence, which sheared off the landing gear. The airplane then touched down on rough terrain and skidded to a stop. The wings were buckled and torn in multiple locations, and damage was noted to the wing spar and the underside of the fuselage. The two-bladed metal propeller showed no evidence of rotational damage.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector recovered an engine data monitor from the wreckage. The device was sent to the NTSB recorders laboratory for download and analysis. The wreckage was retained for further examination.