# NTSB DEN85LA045: Mooney M20E, N79349, Boulder, CO, December 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1984, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Coordinates: 40.040088, -105.370903 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0401&lon=-105.3709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA045

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE AN OFF-ARPT FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE FLT INSTRUCTOR AND THE PLT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION HAD FLOWN THIS ACFT FOR AN EARLIER SESSION OF TRAINING DURING THE MORNING. AFTER A BREAK AND BRIEFING THE ACFT WAS RESTARTED. DURING THE ENGINE RUN-UP THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED FOR REMEDIAL ACTION BEFORE FURTHER RUN-UP AND CHECK. ENGINE HAD BEEN STARTED ON THE LEFT TANK WHICH WAS USED FOR THE PREVIOUS FLT. SOMETIME PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE RIGHT TANK WAS SELECTED. AT ABOUT 350 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CFI TOOK OVER AND CHECKED MOST OF THE CONTROLS WITH NO MENTION OF THE TANK SELECTOR POSITIONING. THE ENGINE DID NOT REGAIN POWER BEFORE THE CFI CUT THE THROTTLE FOR THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N79349 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 559
- Airframe hours: 2363
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bruce Mcmillan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1984, 116 hours before
- Departed: 1V5
- Airport: IV5, Boulder Muni, runway 8, 4,200 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,766 total, 26 in this make and model, 2,613 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F

## 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 19841215066979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841215066979A), Dec 15, 1984: Mooney M20E, Boulder, CO, Substantial damage. Lost power on takeoff. Emergency procedures ineffective, landed in field. No fuel contaminants, post engine run ok.

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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