# NTSB ATL95LA151: Cessna 188T, N731DB, Town Creek, AL, August 10, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1995, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Town Creek, AL
- Coordinates: 34.66996, -87.400749 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6700&lon=-87.4007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA151

## Probable cause

The chafing of the fuel flow gage pressure line with an electrical system wire which resulted in arcing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - aerial application
  - engine instruments,fuel flow gage - other
  - fuel system,line - chafed (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - arcing (cause)
- Fire, maneuvering - aerial application

## Analysis

While en route to spray a field 3 miles from the staging airstrip, the pilot heard an unusual noise in the cockpit. Seconds later, smoke and fire from under the instrument panel started filling the cockpit. The pilot made an emergency landing at the staging airstrip, and exited the burning airplane. The cockpit and center section of the airframe were fire damaged. Examination of the instrument panel disclosed that a fuel line for the fuel flow meter was burnt out of the instrument. Several fire damaged electrical wires were located in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 1995, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188T, N731DB, experienced an inflight fire while enroute to spray a field near Town Creek, Alabama. The aerial application flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot landed the airplane without further incident, and he was not injured. The airplane burned and was destroyed. The flight departed a private airstrip in Town Creek, Alabama, at 0928 hours.

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from the staging airstrip, he noticed a loud noise inside the cockpit followed by the smell of smoke. He executed a turn toward the airstrip for an emergency landing. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane for the landing, he observed flames coming from the instrument panel. The pilot landed on the airstrip, and exited the burning airplane.

Examination of the aircraft disclosed that the cockpit and center sections were fire damaged. An examination of the instrument panel revealed that the fuel flow meter was connected to a wet fuel line behind the instrument panel. Several fire damaged electrical wires were located in the immediate vicinity of the wet fuel line. The entire area behind the instrument panel was fire damaged, and the fitting that connected the wet fuel line to the fuel flow meter was burnt.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N731DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731DB-1997-03-13), registration cancelled 1997-03-13, S/N 18802805T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188T
- Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 188-02805T
- Airframe hours: 3234
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Elliott Parker
- Registered owner: Carl Rhodes
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1995, 96 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Private, runway 9, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 5,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSL, 17 nm away

## 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 19950810023929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950810023929A), Aug 10, 1995: Cessna A188B, Towncreek, AL, Destroyed. Fire en route to spray field. Landed, burned. Fuel line leak under panel beleive ignited by electrical wire short.

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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