# NTSB ATL01LA026: Cessna 172 F, N7882U, Greenwood, MS, January 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2001, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, MS - Coordinates: 33.509914, -90.190383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5099&lon=-90.1904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA026 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons. Finding: A factor is the maintenance modification was performed by company personnel prior to the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, emergency descent/landing - maintenance,modification - performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - fuselage,crew compartment - fire (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing ## Analysis According to the pilot, he noticed smoke in the cabin, and turned around and saw flames behind him. He turned off the master switch and turned the airplane back towards the airport. The pilot landed on the grass next to the runway, and exited the airplane. Suddenly, the pilot executed a left turn and returned to the airport. The controller observed smoke coming from the airplane as the pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing on the airport. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2001, at 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 172F, N7882U, experienced an in-flight fire of unknown origins during takeoff from runway 36, Greenwood- Leflore County Airport, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The airplane departed Greenwood-Leflore County Airport, in Greenwood, Mississippi, at 1700. According to the pilot, after departing Greenwood-Leflore County Airport on runway 36, he noticed smoke in the cabin. He reported, he turned around and saw flames behind him. He turned off the master switch, and turned back towards the airport. He tried to put out the flames but was unsuccessful. During the return to the airport, the airplane collided with power lines. Then the aircraft clipped a 6' high airport security fence. The pilot landed on the grass next to the runway, and exited the airplane. According to the air traffic controller, the airplane climbed to approximately 35 feet after take off from runway 36, and suddenly the pilot executed a left turn and returned to the airport. The controller observed smoke coming from the airplane as the pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing on the airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in the grass adjacent to runway 36. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that, no evidence of fire occurred prior to the modification. The airplane maintenance records revealed that a radio instrument rack, and other electrical equipment had been installed in the passenger compartment prior to the flight. The airplane's passenger compartment from the firewall to aft of the baggage compartment was totally consumed by the fire after landing. This flight was the first flight after the modification and the fire started in the area where the new equipment was installed. The fire ignition source has not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7882U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7882U-2001-06-28), registration cancelled 2001-06-28, S/N 17251882 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251882 - Airframe hours: 4608 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jimmy Leon Thompson - Registered owner: Thompson Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 2000, 4 hours before - Departed: GWO, GREENWOOD, MS - Destination: GWO, GREENWOOD, MS - Airport: GWO, Greenwood Lefore, runway 36, 6,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 21, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 560 total, 400 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: GWO ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010120000349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010120000349A), Jan 20, 2001: Cessna 172F, Greenwood, MS, Destroyed. (-23) A/c departed runway 36 and turned to the west. A/c next seen on south end of runway 36 on the grass west of the runway. The pilot reported an inflight… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.