What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While holding short for take-off on runway 15 at kbtv, a rear seated passenger, father of the pilot and an experienced pilot, noticed an "electrical" smell. The passenger told the pilot: "don't go". The front seat passenger then confirmed the odor and the pilot advised tower and take-off was cancelled.
The tower advised the pilot to taxi south to a point where the aircraft could be observed. At that point tower advised that smoke was seen from under the right wing.
The pilot shut down the engine and all occupants evacuated safely. A significant fire erupted seconds after evacuation. CFR crew arrived expeditiously and extinguished the fire.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE HOLDING SHORT FOR TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 15 AT KBTV, A REAR SEATED PASSENGER, FATHER OF THE PILOT AND AN EXPERIENCED PILOT, NOTICED AN "ELECTRICAL" SMELL. THE PASSENGER TOLD THE PILOT: "DON'T GO". THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER THEN CONFIRMED THE ODOR AND THE PILOT ADVISED TOWER AND TAKE-OFF WAS CANCELLED.
THE TOWER ADVISED THE PILOT TO TAXI SOUTH TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE OBSERVED. AT THAT POINT TOWER ADVISED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM UNDER THE RIGHT WING.
THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ALL OCCUPANTS EVACUATED SAFELY. A SIGNIFICANT FIRE ERUPTED SECONDS AFTER EVACUATION. CFR CREW ARRIVED EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.