# Accident 20241003016219A: North American NAVION A, Rutherfordton, NC, October 3, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2024, 17:38 local time
- Place: Rutherfordton, NC
- Airport: Rutherford County/Marchman Fld
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4294° N, 81.9352° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4294&lon=-81.9352&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9117R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9117R-2025-05-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: North American NAVION A (registry code 6150132, https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 124 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241003016219A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED JQF EN ROUTE TO FQD WITH PILOT AND 1 PAX. AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED AT JQF TRANSPORTING SUPPLIES TO FQD FOR HURRICANE RELIEF.

DURING APPROACH TO FQD, PILOT HEARD AN AUDIBLE POP IN THE CABIN OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PAX FELT HEAT DIRECTLY AFTER THE POP. AIRCRAFT WAS ALREADY ON FINAL APPROACH AT THIS POINT AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE NOTED BEHIND THE COCKPIT SEATS. PILOT IMMEDIATELY NOSED THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO ACCELERATE TOUCHDOWN. SMOKE CLEARED ENOUGH AT THE FINAL MOMENT TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. A HARD LANDING WAS EXPERIENCED AND AIRCRAFT CAME TO FULL STOP. BOTH PERSONNEL EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT BURNED SUBSTANTIALLY ON SITE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE SUPPORT, NOT MUCH REMAINED.

AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACTIVE RUNWAY DIRECTLY AFTER.

TASK

T-EA68-FY25-0191

## 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 ERA25LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA007), Oct 3, 2024: North American Navion (N9117R), Rutherfordton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight fire, the origin of which could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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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