# Accident 20100117026729A: Mooney M20R, La Veta, CO, January 17, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 2010, 15:00 local time
- Place: La Veta, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Run-Up Area
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5239° N, 105.0092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5239&lon=-105.0092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N782LU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N782LU-2010-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20R (registry code 5870225, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550 series (registry code 17042, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100117026729A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WHILE MAKING A 180 TURN ON THE RUNWAY IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF OF RUNWAY 6 THE PILOT HEARD A MUFFLED "POP" SOUND WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE FOLLOWED BY SEEING A PUFF OF SMOKE. PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE CLIMBED OUT OF THE AIRPLANE  AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT LEFT WING AND COCKPIT WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THERE WAS MINOR FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BUT SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE TO ENGINE MOUNT, AND ACCESSORY  AREA BETWEEN THE CYLINDER BAFFLE SHROUND AND FIRE WALL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN10LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA098), Jan 17, 2010: Mooney M20R (N782LU), La Veta, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fuel leak and subsequent fire due to a mechanical defect.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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