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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 12, 1995 · Interstate S-1A · N37239

Amarillo, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 12, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Amarillo, TX
Aircraft
Interstate S-1A
Tail Number
N37239
Operator
The Flight School
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW95LA089

THE INSTRUCTOR AND CERTIFICATED PILOT HAD BEEN PRACTICING MANEUVERS FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES WHEN THEY SMELLED 'SOMETHING FUNNY.' SMOKE THEN APPEARED BENEATH THE FRONT FLOORBOARDS, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY FLAMES. THE INSTRUCTOR MADE A SUCCESSFUL OFF-AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING AND THE TWO PILOTS EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. EVIDENCE INDICATES THE FIRE WAS CONFINED AFT OF THE FIREWALL BUT THE IGNITION SOURCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE INTACT AND NO ANOMALIES NOTED.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN INFLIGHT FIRE, THE REASON FOR WHICH WAS UNDETERMINED.

Full Narrative

On January 12, 1995, at 1722 central standard time, N37239, an Interstate S-1A, was destroyed by fire after the pilots made a forced landing near Amarillo, Texas. The flight instructor and the certificated pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report and pilot interviews. The pilots had been flying in the west practice area for 25 minutes, doing S-turns across a road and other commercial maneuvers. The front seat pilot told the flight instructor he "smelled something funny." Smoke appeared from beneath the front floorboards, followed shortly thereafter by flames. The flight instructor made an emergency landing in an open field about four miles west of Amarillo, and both pilots evacuated the airplane. The airplane was totally consumed by fire. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane and reported the fire was confined aft of the firewall, but he was unable to identify the ignition source. The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system. The engine and exhaust system were intact and no anomalies were noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:22 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftInterstate S-1A
Tail NumberN37239
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorThe Flight School
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A75-8 · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 30 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data