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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

September 8, 1991 · Cessna 172K · N7031G

Bullhead City, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 1991
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Bullhead City, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172K
Tail Number
N7031G
Operator
Sheble Aviation
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX91FA386

The ATP certificated pilot and his wife had been airborne for about 35 minutes and were approaching an airport for landing when she stated that they had an inflight cabin fire. The night flight originated at Las Vegas, Nevada, where they had just been married. Prior to reaching the intended airport, she stated the fire originated in the overhead light console which houses 2 rheostats and a light switch. The fire began to burn the headliner and plastic console. The burning plastic was dripping onto their bodies. The aircraft crashed out of control near the runway in the dirt and was destroyed. The cabin fire was extinguished by the local fire department. A duplicate console was tested. When the door post light was shorted, the lighting rheostat in the console reached in excess of 1425 degrees Fahrenheit at a circuit load 6 amps maximum. The circuit is protected by a 10 amp breaker. The overhead cabin plastic material was found to readily burn.

NTSB Probable Cause

1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS.

Full Narrative

THE ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND WERE APPROACHING AN AIRPORT FOR LANDING WHEN SHE STATED THAT THEY HAD AN INFLIGHT CABIN FIRE. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WHERE THEY HAD JUST BEEN MARRIED. PRIOR TO REACHING THE INTENDED AIRPORT, SHE STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE OVERHEAD LIGHT CONSOLE WHICH HOUSES 2 RHEOSTATS AND A LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRE BEGAN TO BURN THE HEADLINER AND PLASTIC CONSOLE. THE BURNING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ONTO THEIR BODIES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL NEAR THE RUNWAY IN THE DIRT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CABIN FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A DUPLICATE CONSOLE WAS TESTED. WHEN THE DOOR POST LIGHT WAS SHORTED, THE LIGHTING RHEOSTAT IN THE CONSOLE REACHED IN EXCESS OF 1425 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT A CIRCUIT LOAD 6 AMPS MAXIMUM. THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A 10 AMP BREAKER. THE OVERHEAD CABIN PLASTIC MATERIAL WAS FOUND TO READILY BURN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:55 MST
Nearest AirportBullhead City (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172K
Tail NumberN7031G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSheble Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind180° @ 7 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data