# NTSB CEN09LA594: Mcclish Funk B85C, N81167, Coffeyville, KS, September 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2009, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Coffeyville, KS - Coordinates: 37.093887, -95.571945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0939&lon=-95.5719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA594 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74764/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74764 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA594 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcclish FUNK B85C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5480108), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcclish FUNK B85C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5480108), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Mcclish FUNK B85C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5480108), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Mcclish FUNK B85C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5480108), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a run-up, the pilot and passenger departed in the single-engine airplane. Shortly after reaching 800 feet in altitude, the pilot observed orange flames in the area of the glare shield. The pilot elected to pull the engine throttle to idle, switched off the ignition switch, and performed a dead-stick landing. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted before the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot reported that the logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the fire, and was unsure when the last annual inspection was performed. An examination after the accident revealed that the airplane's fabric covering was fully consumed in the ensuing fire. Due to the extent of the damage, the fire's ignition source was not located. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2009, about 1430 central daylight time, a McClish Funk B85C airplane, N81167, was destroyed following a cockpit fire during initial climb and a subsequent successful landing at the Coffeyville Municipal Airport (CFV), Coffeyville, Kansas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local flight. According to the pilot, following a "normal" run-up he departed from runway 04. Shortly after reaching 800 feet in altitude, the pilot observed orange flames in the area of the glare shield. The pilot elected to pull the engine throttle to idle, switched off the ignition switch, and performed a dead stick landing to runway 36. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted before the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot did not hold a current medical and his last bi-annual flight review was on June 26, 2006. The pilot reported that the logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the fire, and was unsure when the last annual inspection was performed. An examination after the accident revealed that the airplane's fabric covering was fully consumed in the ensuing fire. The fire's ignition source was not located. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81167](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81167-2013-09-11), registration cancelled 2013-09-11, S/N 297, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCCLISH FUNK B85C - Registry model: [Mcclish FUNK B85C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcclish-funk-b85c) (registry code 5480108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 297 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CFV, Coffeyville, KS - Destination: CFV, Coffeyville, KS - Airport: CFV, Coffeyville Municipal, runway 35, 5,872 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review June 26, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 18,500 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 18,500 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg ## 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 20090918022139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090918022139A), Sep 18, 2009: Mclish B85C, Coffeyville, KS, Destroyed. On September 18, 2009 this office received a call that a funk B85C, N81167, had caught fire and burned at Coffeyville, Kansas. The pilot, jon schroeder, stated… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74764. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Digital Photo 1, Right side view (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%201,%20Right%20side%20view-Master.PDF 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.