Mooney M20 accident near Boulder, Colorado, October 27, 2014
On October 27, 2014 at about 1:40 pm local time, a 1966 Mooney M20, registered N3539X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Boulder, Colorado (Boulder Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined by the postaccident examination, which was limited due to impact damage and postcrash fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2014 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · Boulder Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20 F, built 1966 · all M20s on the register
- Registration
- N3539X · no longer on the register · serial 670076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that, just after takeoff, the airplane rolled left to an inverted position and impacted terrain. One witness reported hearing abnormal engine sounds just before the impact, but other witnesses did not recall hearing anything abnormal. The pilot was departing to the east with a direct crosswind, and the sun was most likely in the pilot's eyes, but it could not be determined what effect this would have on the pilot's control of the airplane. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were found in the full power, rich mixture, and high rpm positions, respectively. However, the propeller blade signatures were consistent with the engine operating at a low power setting. A trace amount of water was found in the fuel divider; however, this could have come from post-accident firefighting measures. Due to impact and postcrash fire damage, fuel from the fuel tanks and lines was not available for examination, and the damage also precluded a functional test of the engine and related systems. The investigation could not determine if the engine lost power before the airplane rolled inverted.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Bright light › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,438 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,507.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KBDU Boulder CO at 1:40 pm
- Destination: KBJC Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 pm from KBDU, 5 miles away
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.