# NTSB ATL82DA049: Cessna C-172, N13165, Brownsville, KY, February 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1982, 17:54 local (23:54 UTC)
- Place: Brownsville, KY
- Location: 37.1948° N, 86.2651° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brownsville, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1948&lon=-86.2651&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70055/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA049

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, climb
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - fire (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. HE REPORTED THAT FLAMES STARTED TO COME IN AS HE WAS TURNING BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP. WHEN HE SAW THAT HE COULD LAND BACK ON THE STRIP, HE REPORTEDLY SHUT- OFF THE FUEL, MASTER SWITCH AND MAGNETOS. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT ABOUT MID-FIELD. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND BARN. THE WITNESS NOTED THAT THE PILOT WAS DAZED AND ASSISTED IN EVACUATING HIM FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AT THAT TIME, THE WITNESS OBSERVED THAT BLUE SPARKS WERE COMING FROM BENEATH THE DASH ON THE PILOT'S SIDE. AFTER THEY MOVED ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE PLANE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BARN AND AIRCRAFT WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13165](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13165-2014-09-03), registration cancelled 2014-09-03, S/N 17262543, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-62543
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Billy Thomas
- Registered owner: Billy Thomas
- Departed: BROWNSVILLE, KY
- Destination: HOPKINSVILLE, KY
- Airport: Meredith, runway 24, 2,000 × 0 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 18,000 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 104 °F

## 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 19820208004669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820208004669A), Feb 8, 1982: Cessna 172M, Brownsville, KY, Substantial damage. Sparks, smoke and flames under dash after takeoff. Overshot runway returning. Burned. Possible electrical short.

## Other investigations on N13165 (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 MIA79DKT08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79DKT08), Sep 17, 1978: Cessna 172 (N13165), Lk Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage

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.

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