Ownership guide
Mooney M20J
1,398 registered in the US, built from about 1976 to 1998, 4 seats, most with the Lycoming IO-360. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 1,398
- Built
- 1976 to 1998
- Half built by
- 1980
- Seats
- 4
- Engine type
- Piston
- Most common engine
- Lycoming IO-360
Engines installed
- Lycoming IO-3601,214 aircraft (87%) · 29 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
- Lycoming AEIO-36035 aircraft (3%) · 18 ADs, 3 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
18 current ADs name the M20J airframe, 2 with a repeat action. Its engines carry 47 more. 16 equipment ADs name the model.
The ones that come back
ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.
- 98-24-11Requires inspecting the aileron control links for the installation of a reinforcing gusset; and, if no gusset is installed, repetitively inspecting the aileron control links (left-hand and right-hand) for cracksMooney Aircraft Corporation Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, M20J, M20K, M20L, M20M, and M20R Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionNov 23, 1998
- 95-26-16 R1Requires repetitively inspecting the alternate air door assembly to ensure a cotter pin exists and is secure, and replacing the cotter pin if it does not exist or is not secureMooney Aircraft Corporation Model M20J Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionApr 22, 1996
What gets reported
13 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section2
- Magneto/Distributor2
- Low Tension Coil2
- Reciprocating Engine Power Section1
- Propeller Governor1
- Engine Anti-Icing System1
Parts reported most
- Crankshaft, broken1
- Governor, failed1
- Door, broken1
- Alternator, failed1
- Intake valve, broken1
- Impulse coupling, failed1
The latest reports
2026-08-24 · Engine Anti-Icing System · Door, broken
Aircraft was in cruise at 6000' when all 4 cylinders experienced abnormal egt rise, slight reduction in cht, and engine surging. diverted to nearest airport. removed main engine air filter and discovered 600118-015 alternate air door with cracks emanating from and completely detached from 600355-507 plate assembly (photos available). ad95-26-16 r1 was complied with. part failed 30 flight hours
2026-04-20 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section · Intake valve, broken
Pilot reported during cruise operation a sudden engine roughness with a loss of power. emergency landing requested and completed at koxr. inspection of engine found cylinder number 3 with hole through intake port and rear baffle. borescope inspection revealed broken intake valve. intake valve top at retainer keys still contained in spring cap with valve rotator intact. intake valve head contacted
2026-04-15 · Low Tension Coil · Coil, damaged
Engine cylinder nr 4 was experiencing intermittent misfiring. found lt coil was grounding to its mount through a small pinhole in bottom of the coil case, electroair stated that it was tested and "there was nothing wrong with it". the coil was returned and a new coil was installed, which solved the misfire condition. we connected a high tension cable tester to the suspect coil and observed high v
2026-03-10 · Low Tension Coil · Coil, arced
Engine cylinder nr 4 was experiencing intermittent misfiring. found l/h coil was grounding to its mount through a small pinhole in bottom of the coil case.the coil was returned to electroair for evaluation. electroair stated that it was tested and "there was nothing wrong with it". the coil was returned and a new coil was installed, which solved the misfire condition. we connected a high tension c
From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.
Accident record
96 accidents since 2008, 32 fatal (59 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 10 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Loss of engine power (total)14
- Loss of control in flight12
- Loss of control on ground9
- Aerodynamic stall/spin7
- Collision during takeoff/land7
- Loss of engine power (partial)6
Phase of flight
- Landing24
- Initial climb17
- Takeoff14
- Approach13
- Enroute13
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | Albuquerque, NM | Approach: Loss of control in flight | Serious | WPR26LA214 |
| 2026-05-23 | Woodlake, CA | Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin | Fatal | WPR26FA198 |
| 2026-05-15 | Morris, IL | Maneuvering: Fuel related | None | CEN26LA189 |
| 2026-05-14 | Lake havasu city, AZ | Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial) | Serious | WPR26LA197 |
| 2026-04-17 | Ironton, OH | Initial climb: Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) | Fatal | ERA26FA178 |
| 2026-04-17 | Union, SC | Initial climb: Loss of control in flight | Fatal | WPR26FA160 |
From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.
What it costs to run
Per hour flown
Per year, flown or not
- Fuel
- $0/hr
- Engine reserve
- $0/hr
- A year
- $0
- All in, per hour
- $0/hr
Filled in for a Mooney M20J with the Lycoming IO-360: a typical cruise fuel burn. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Before you buy one
- Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
- For each repeat-action AD (2 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
- Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
- Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the reciprocating engine cylinder section and for broken crankshafts: they are what gets reported most on this model.
- 16 equipment ADs name the M20J (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
- Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
- Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.
The rest of the M20 family
Questions
- How many Mooney M20Js are registered in the US?
- 1,398, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Mooney M20J built?
- From about 1976 to 1998. Half of those registered today were built by 1980.
- What engine does the Mooney M20J have?
- Most have the Lycoming IO-360 (87% of those registered); others have the Lycoming AEIO-360.
- What are common problems with the Mooney M20J?
- In 13 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were reciprocating engine cylinder section, magneto/distributor, low tension coil, and the part most often reported was a broken crankshaft.
- How many accidents has the Mooney M20J had?
- 96 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 32 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
- How many Airworthiness Directives does the Mooney M20J have?
- 18 current ADs name the M20J airframe, 2 of them with a repeat action, and 47 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.
Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.