19990617007169A

Acft was landing when flames were noticed inside the cockpit, the pilot and passenger evacuated the acft, and the acft was destroyed by fire, other circumstances are unknown. (.19)on June 17, 1999, at 1215 central datlight time (CDT) a Cessna 172N, N9419E, operated by a private pilot was destroyed by fire during landing roll at the Carlton county airport, cloquest, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was destroyed. The 14 CFR part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Cloquet, Minnesota, at 1100 CDT. The pilot reported the flight was normal. During the landing roll the passenger informed the pilot that there were flames near the pilot's head. The pilot stated he then noticed flames coming from the door post near his left knee. Attempts to extinguish the flames were to no avail. The pilot and passneger exited the airplane on the runway. The pilot stated the aitplane was engulfed in shortly after they exited it. (-23)just after touchdown passenger told pilot there were flames to the left rear fo the pilot head. Pilot reported he then noted seeing flames at hi s left knee. Aircraft landed normally and was stopped on the runway where pilot attempted to put fire out by blotting it with laminated check list. Flames would go down but started right back up. So pilot and passenger exited the aircraft. By the time fire department got to the aircraft (approx 4 minutes) the cockpit and portion of tail burnt to the ground. Due to extent of damage, cause of accident undetermined at this point. This form will be amended as further data is received.