This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N9546M
- History of Flight:
On September 7, 2026, at about 1015 local time, a privately-registered Mooney M20F Executive 21, N9546M, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX/KTIX), Titusville, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1014:39, the airplane was first seen about 4300 ft down the 7300 ft runway traveling at 71 knots groundspeed with a positive vertical rate of 380 feet per minute (fpm). The next data point was recorded at 1014:48 and showed the airplane at 75 ft, 67 knots groundspeed, with a 0 vertical rate. At 1015:07, the airplane was seen over the departure end of the runway at 125 ft and 60 knots groundspeed with a +640 fpm vertical rate. For the next 7 seconds, the airplane barely climbed to 150 ft while in a left turn, with the groundspeed going up to 67 knots and the vertical rate going down to 128 fpm. In the next 5 seconds, the airplane descended to 125 ft, 65 knots, and -256 fpm. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 1015:19, the airplane was at 150 ft, 60 knots, and +320 fpm, still in the left turn and over the powerlines that run parallel to the highway.
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| Figure 1: Entire track with first data point distance calculation |
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| Figure 2: End of track with 1, presumed accident location, and 2, powerlines running along highway |
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| Figure 3: View of end of track with extend to ground option disabled, note powerlines |
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| Figure 4: Raw ADS-B data view |
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| Figure 5: TOC as seen from Flysto |
The NTSB reported that the airplane experienced an engine failure on takeoff and crashed into powerlines and terrain. The wreckage was moved before the NTSB investigator in-charge (IIC) arrived on scene.
- Pilot Information:
The registered owner holds a private pilot certificate that was last issued/updated on 2/26/2012 with an airplane single engine land rating. His BasicMed Course was dated 1/18/2025. (It is unknown if this was the accident pilot at this time)
- Airplane Information:
The accident airplane, serial number 670123, was manufactured in 1967. It was a four-seat, low-wing, retractable landing gear airplane powered by a four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled Lycoming IO-360 engine.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane impacted powerlines and terrain 0.24 mile north of the departure end of runway 36. The airplane came to rest inverted and was consumed by a post crash fire. Both outer wings were impact damaged and separated, the fuselage and tail showed extensive crush impact damage in various directions. The fuselage was destroyed.
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| Figure: Tail crushing damage |
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| Figure: Aft view of airframe and tail |
- Airport Information:
KTIX is a controlled public airport located 5 miles south of Titusville, Florida. The airport field elevation is 34 ft. The airport features two runways, runway 18/36 asphalt/grooved 7319 x 150 ft, and runway 9/27 asphalt 5000 x 100 ft.
The area north of the airport (and in the path of departure from runway 36) is mostly covered with trees. There is a highway that runs perpendicular to the runway, and the outer side of the highway features powerlines that run parallel to it.
There is a small open field located behind the powerlines and is not covered with trees, given the ADS-B data, the pilot was most likely aiming to land at that area when the accident happened.
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| Figure: Flight-track with open area to the north of the runway |
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
At 1014, KTIX was reporting calm winds, visibility 7 miles, a scattered ceiling at 1,000ft AGL, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury.
At 1015, a nearby airport, Arthur Dunn Air Park (X21), was reporting calm winds, 10 miles visibility, no clouds under 12,000ft (CLR), temperature 28°C, dewpoint 28°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury. Distant lightning was reported from the southwest and west. The calculated density altitude was 1552 ft.
(2) METARs:
METAR KTIX 071347Z 02005KT 7SM SCT010 BKN050 A2997=
SPECI KTIX 071414Z 00000KT 7SM SCT010 A2998 <<<<
METAR KTIX 071447Z 00000KT 7SM SCT012 BKN050 A2998=
METAR KX21 071355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW012 29/28 A2994 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W
METAR KX21 071415Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/28 A2995 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW AND W <<<<
METAR KX21 071435Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/28 A2995 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE AND SW
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
