# NTSB DEN88LA127: Cessna 182K, N2829R, Cotton City, NM, June 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1988, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Cotton City, NM
- Coordinates: 31.9405, -108.829475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9405&lon=-108.8295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17478/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA127

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE CESSNA 182 FOR A CROSS COUNTRY, SOLO, PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLIGHT.  DURING THE STARTING PROCEDURES, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND THE PILOT SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING AREA. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH LOOSE DIRT TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ARRIVED WITHIN 15 MINUTES, BUT THE FIRE HAD DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2829R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2829R-1990-02-21), registration cancelled 1990-02-21, S/N 18258429 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182K
- Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18258429
- Airframe hours: 3000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Burton, Phillip D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1988, 15 hours before
- Destination: LRU, LAS CRUCES, NM
- Airport: Cotton City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19880614024319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880614024319A), Jun 14, 1988: Cessna 182K, Cotton City, NM, Destroyed. Engine backfired while starting, causing induction fire from flooding. Pilot failed to keep cranking to suck up fuel

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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