# NTSB CEN19LA324: Best Off Skyranger, N1671L, Duncan, OK, September 19, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2019, 19:30 local (Sep 19, 2019, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Duncan, OK
- Coordinates: 34.471389, -97.959724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4714&lon=-97.9597&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100295
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA324
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100295/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100295
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA324

## Probable cause

A fire during the engine run-up 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: [Crouchley Robert G SKYRANGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05902KZ), [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.

- [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Crouchley Robert G SKYRANGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05902KZ), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing an engine run-up before takeoff in his experimental airplane when the engine lost all power. He exited the airplane to examine the engine and noticed a fire, which quickly spread and consumed most of the airplane. Due to extensive fire damage, the origin of and reason for the fire could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 2019, about 1930 central daylight time, an kit-built Best Off Skyranger airplane, N1671, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Halliburton Field Airport (DUC), Duncan, Oklahoma. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated he taxied from his hangar and performed an engine run, during which the engine lost total power. As he exited the airplane to examine the engine, the pilot noticed a fire had started below the front of the airplane. The fire quickly spread and burned most of the airplane. Examination of the fire damaged wreckage did not reveal a fire initiating event.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1671L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1671L-2021-06-08), registration cancelled 2021-06-08, S/N 0601679 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Best Off SKYRANGER (No Series)
- Registry model: [Crouchley Robert G SKYRANGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/crouchley-robert-g-skyranger) (registry code 05902KZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0601679
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 421
- Engines: Jabiru 2200 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 2018, 1 hours before
- Departed: DUC, Duncan, OK
- Destination: DUC, Duncan, OK
- Airport: DUC, Halliburton Field
- Equipment: Airframe parachute

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review December 26, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 315 total, 300 in this make and model, 278 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KDUC

## 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 20190918018169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190918018169A), Sep 18, 2019: Crouchley Robert G SKYRANGER, Duncan, OK, Destroyed. While doing magneto and end of runway preflight checks engine stalled as pilot started to disembark aircraft to determine why engine quit. Heard the fire…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100295. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Correspondence with FAA (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 4, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.

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