# NTSB CEN10LA186: Cessna 182F, N3320U, Wichita Falls, TX, April 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2010, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Wichita Falls, TX - Coordinates: 33.859268, -98.490119 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8593&lon=-98.4901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 75640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75640/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75640 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA186 ## Probable cause A fire of undetermined origin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072714), [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. - [Prior to flight: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway when he smelled an electrical odor in the cockpit and then saw smoke coming from the instrument panel. He stopped the airplane and shut it down. As he exited the airplane, he saw black smoke and flames coming from the instrument panel. The fire consumed most of the airplane fuselage aft of the engine firewall. The origin of the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2010, about 1650 central standard time, a Cessna C-182F airplane, N3320U, was substantially damaged after catching fire during taxi for takeoff at Kickapoo Downtown Airport (CWC), Wichita Falls, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he was taxiing to the runway when he smelled an “electrical” smell in the cockpit. He then saw smoke coming from the instrument panel. He stopped the airplane and shut it down. As he exited the airplane he saw black smoke and flames coming from the instrument panel. The fire consumed most of the airplane fuselage aft of the engine firewall. The airplane maintenance records were in the airplane at the time of the accident and were consumed by the fire. According to the mechanic who performed regular maintenance on the airplane, the last annual inspection had occurred in March of 2009, and a new engine, battery, and landing light had been installed about 18 flight hours prior to the accident. A postaccident examination of the wreckage was conducted by NTSB investigators. The origin of the fire could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3320U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3320U-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 18254720, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F - Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254720 - Airframe hours: 5464 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Air Executive Aircraft Management Inc - Registered owner: Air Executive Aircraft Management Inc - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2009 - Departed: CWC, Wichita Falls, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: CWC, Kickapoo Downtown Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 2,300 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: CWC ## 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 20100401030979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100401030979A), Apr 1, 2010: Cessna 182F, Wichita Falls, TX, Destroyed. On April 1, 2010, at approximately 1800 CDT, the pilot and sole occupant taxied N3320U, a Cessna model 182F, to the run up area of runway 17 at Kickapoo… ## Other investigations on N3320U (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 MKC76DCG24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCG24), Sep 11, 1975: Cessna 182F (N3320U), Warrensburg, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75640. 4.8 MB in all. - Factual Report of Fire Group Chairman 11-008 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factual%20Report%20of%20Fire%20Group%20Chairman%2011-008-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-Redacted.PDF - Photo - FAA Photo of wreckage in hanger (item 4, .PDF, 613 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20FAA%20Photo%20of%20wreckage%20in%20hanger-Master.PDF - Photo - Airplane on fire on taxiway (item 5, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Airplane%20on%20fire%20on%20taxiway-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 7, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.