- Date
- July 12, 1996, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Parker, SD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N50104Cessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960712017959A
- Case key
- 10311
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
engine compartment fire from accumulated fuel in the carburetor, and failure of the pilot to follow the emergency checklist procedure.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had landed about 30 minutes prior to the accident. When he attempted to start the engine before the next planned flight, it 'turned over but wouldn't start.' He pumped the throttle three times. He said he engaged the starter, the engine 'popped through the carb,' and fire ignited in the engine compartment. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane uneventfully. The emergency procedure published in the pilot's operating handbook (for engine fire during start on ground), specified 'cranking-continue, to get start which would suck the flames and accumulated fuel through the carburetor and into the engine.'
Factual narrative
On July 12, 1996, at 1830 central daylight time, a Cessna 150, N50104, was destroyed by fire at a private airstrip near Parker, South Dakota. The pilot reported that the fire initiated prior to takeoff during an attempted engine start. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the planned local flight.
The pilot reported that he had landed about 30 minutes prior to the accident. When he attempted to start the engine prior to the planned flight, it "turned over but wouldn't start." He pumped the throttle three times. He engaged the starter, the engine "popped through the carb," and the fire ignited in the engine compartment. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane uneventfully.
Emergency procedures published in the pilot's operating handbook, engine fire during start on ground checklist, specify "cranking-continue, to get start which would suck the flames and accumulated fuel through the carburetor and into the engine."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50104
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069064
- Airframe hours
- 2,389
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald Heibult Jr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · August 1, 1995
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 80 in this make and model · 53 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N50104 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.