# NTSB CEN25LA352: Glasair GlaStar, N605MN, Hearne, TX, August 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 28, 2025, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Hearne, TX · runway - Coordinates: 30.872083, -96.622194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8721&lon=-96.6222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 200903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200903/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200903 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA352 ## Probable cause The inflight engine compartment fire for reasons that could not be determined. ## 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: [Vince Mathews GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05608HI), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Vince Mathews GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05608HI), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 30 minutes into the local flight, he heard some crackling in the radio reception and then the cockpit flight displays went blank. The engine stumbled and lost power completely. The pilot was operating the airplane in the airport traffic pattern at that time and decided to secure the engine to set up for a forced landing to the runway. Smoke began entering the cockpit during the landing flare, and then the pilot noticed flames on the right side of the airplane. After he stopped the airplane, he exited, obtained a fire extinguisher, and called the fire department. The airplane sustained substantial fire damage to the fuselage, empennage, and engine mounts. A postaccident examination revealed extensive thermal damage to the engine and within the engine compartment. The damage extended into the cockpit and cabin area, and then along the right side to the aft fuselage. While clear that the fire started within the engine compartment, the extent of the damage prevented a determination of the exact location and source of the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N605MN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N605MN), registered now, S/N 5368, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glasair GlaStar - Registry model: [Vince Mathews GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/vince-mathews-glastar) (registry code 05608HI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2d) (registry code 42123, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5368 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 158 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 15, 2024, 10 hours before - Departed: PVT, Gause, TX - Destination: LHB, Hearne, TX - Airport: LHB, Hearne Municipal, runway 18, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,500 total, 165 in this make and model, 165 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots, gusting 2 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KLHB - METAR: METAR KLHB 282315Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM FEW070 FEW085 36/22 A2988 ## 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 20250828015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250828015669A), Aug 28, 2025: Vince Mathews GLASTAR, Hearne, TX, Substantial damage. 08/28/2025, Approx 1700 - preflight aircraft, fuel check full, oil check 6 1/4 qts. Started aircraft warmed up and taxied to runway. Private grass strip 2251… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200903. 68.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19516487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA352_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19514033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA352-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19516890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA(Petitjean)_02Sep2025-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 63.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19516477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20CEN25LA352_redacted-Rel.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.