# NTSB DEN81FTE69: Mooney M20C, N78899, Delta, CO, September 13, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 13, 1981
- Place: Delta, CO · DELTA, CO
- Location: 38.7574° N, 108.0880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Delta, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7574&lon=-108.0880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE69
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE69

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2453  81/9/13    DELTA,CO            MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 1452
        TIME - 1830                    N78899              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1168 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLAKEFIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GLENWOOD SPRINGS,CO         DELTA,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: ON GROUND                             LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  FUMES IN CABIN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT SMELLED STRONG GAS FUMES IN FLT.HOT SPOTS IN WRECKAGE CENTERED AROUND FUEL SEL/STRAINER DRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78899](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78899-1985-01-28), registration cancelled 1985-01-28, S/N 2914 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Blakefield

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810913058869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810913058869A), Sep 13, 1981: Mooney M20C, Delta, CO, Destroyed. Fuel fumes in flght. Airplane burst into flames in cabin on roll out. Source of ignition of fuel unknown.

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.

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