Mooney M20R accident near La Veta, Colorado, January 17, 2010
On January 17, 2010 at about 10:06 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N782LU, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near La Veta, Colorado (Cuchara Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fuel leak and subsequent fire due to a mechanical defect.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2010 · about 10:06 pm local time
- Place
- La Veta, Colorado · Cuchara Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N782LU · registry record · serial 29-0314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just made a turn during taxi when he heard a “pop” and saw smoke and flames coming from the engine area. He stopped the plane, shut down the engine, and exited the airplane as the fuselage became engulfed in flames. By the time the fire was extinguished the fuselage had been mostly consumed by fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed a localized area of high temperature thermal damage in the engine compartment located directly behind the fuel flow transducer. Examination of the fuel transducer revealed the outlet fuel line was loose at the crimp of the fuel line connector where it attached to the outlet elbow. Upon removal, a portion of interior rubber hose was found missing from underneath the steel braid as well as a portion of steel braiding. The missing portion of the steel braid was absent pre-fire, which interfered with the crimp seal and subsequently resulted in a fuel leak and fire. The cause of the missing steel braid was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during prior to flight defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,374 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 07V La Veta CO at 10:05 pm
- Destination: ALS Alamosa CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; a few clouds
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.