# Accident 20100405039979A: Beech 35-A33, West Mifflin, PA, April 5, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 5, 2010, 12:30 local time
- Place: West Mifflin, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3522° N, 79.9300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3522&lon=-79.9300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N156J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N156J-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 35-A33 (registry code 1151404, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-a33) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35-A33
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 1 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA210) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100405039979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 4/05/2010 THE FSDO OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE KAGC TOWER THAT AN AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE ON THE TAXIWAY.  INSPECTORS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED ON SCENE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES LATER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN HANGAR 4, A HANGAR THAT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICS (PIA) USES FOR TRAINING.THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT HAS SIGNS OF EXTREME HEAT AT THE WINDOW OPENINGS AND AREAS AFT OF THE ENGINE COWLING.  THE WINDOWS ARE MELTED OUT OF THEIR FRAMES AND SAGGING INTO THE INTERIOR.  THE WINDSHIELD IS MELTED AND DRAPED OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.  THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE IS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.  DOOR, WINDOW FRAMES AND WINDOWS, ALONG WITH EXTERIOR SKIN ARE MISSING, CONSUMED BY FIRE.  THE INTERIOR PANELS, SEAT COVERING, OVERHEAD AND INSULATION ARE CONSUMED.  THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS WARPED FORWARD AND DOWNWARD AND ALL INSTRUMENTS AND AVIONICS ARE DESTROYED.  ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING IS BRITTLE, MISSING INSULATING COVERING.  ANY KNOB AND SWITCH IF CONSTRUCTED FROM PLASTIC IS DEFORMED OR CONSUMED.  THE SHIP'S BATTERY, THAT IS FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, IS MOLLIFIED AND THE BATTERY CASE IS DEFORMED.  THE REMAINDER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS IN GOOD CONDITION.  THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF FIRE IS SOOT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE COWL ABOVE THE BATTERY.  ALSO, THE WIRING FROM THE BATTERY TO THE START SOLENOID IS WITHOUT INSULATING SLEEVE AND HAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE.  THE START SOLENOID HAS THE SAME FEATURES.  ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF HIGH TEMPERATURE EITHER FROM ELECTRICAL HIGH RESISTANCE OR AN IGNITION SOURCE HAS PROVED DIFFICULT DUE TO THE DEGRADATION OF THE CABIN SECTION.THE CREW MEMBERS STATED THAT THEY COULD SEE MOLTEN MATERIAL DROPPING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FORWARD OF THE RADIO STACK AS THEY EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.  THIS MATERIAL IS POSSIBLY THE SOURCE OF IGNITION THAT CONSUMED THE INTERIOR AND SECONDARY TO THE SOURCE OF SMOKE THAT PROMPTED THE CREW TO ABORT THE TAKE-OFF. THERE WAS NO FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA10LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA210), Apr 5, 2010: Beech 35-A33 (N156J), Pittsburgh, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fire of undetermined origin behind the left instrument panel.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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