# NTSB DFW07CA125: Cessna A188B, N53377, Happy, TX, June 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2007, 10:57 local (15:57 UTC) - Place: Happy, TX - Coordinates: 34.743611, -101.85575 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7436&lon=-101.8558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 65910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA125 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire while maneuvering for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that he was flying his single-engine agricultural airplane approximately 300-feet above ground level when he smelled "hot wiring." He then saw smoke in the cockpit, and saw flames underneath the trailing edge of the right wing. The pilot made a precautionary landing on a county road, and exited the airplane normally. An FAA inspector examined the airplane. A review of photographs taken by the inspector revealed that the left wing and fuselage were consumed by fire, and the engine cowling had thermal damage. The mid-section of the right wing and tip of the elevator sustained thermal damage. This damage appeared to be heavy sooting, paint blistering, and metal deformation, consistent with an in-flight fire. However, the origin of the in-flight fire could not be determined. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the operator's facility, that the airplane's maintenance records were aboard the airplane at the time of the mishap, and according to the pilot, they were destroyed in the fire. ## Factual narrative The 12,044-hour commercial pilot reported that he was flying his single-engine agricultural airplane approximately 300-feet above ground level when he smelled "hot wiring." He then saw smoke in the cockpit and visually observed flames underneath the trailing edge of the right wing. The pilot made a precautionary landing on a county road, and exited the airplane normally. An FAA inspector examined the airplane. A review of several photographs taken by the inspector revealed that the left wing and fuselage were consumed by fire, and the engine cowling exhibited thermal damage as well. The mid-section of the right wing and tip of the elevator sustained thermal damage. This damage appeared to be heavy sooting, paint blistering, and metal deformation, consistent with an in-flight fire. However, the origin of the in-flight fire could not be determined. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the operator's facility, reported that the airplane's maintenance records were aboard the airplane at the time of the mishap, and according to the pilot, they were destroyed in the fire. The weather at the time of the accident was reported as few clouds, 10 miles visibility, and wind from 310 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53377](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53377-2013-04-09), registration cancelled 2013-04-09, S/N 18801796T, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18801796T - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Continental IO 520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Both - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Dudley McNeill - Registered owner: Dudley McNeill - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006, 300 hours before - Departed: 6TE7, Wayside, TX - Destination: 6TE7 - Airport: 6TE7, McNeill Ranch Airport, runway 35, 4,000 × 34 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review April 1, 2006; flight hours: 12,044 total, 8,490 in this make and model, 360 in the last 90 days, 115 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KAMA ## 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 20070602010849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070602010849A), Jun 2, 2007: Cessna A188B, Happy, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On June 2, 2007, at approximately 1053 CDT, the pilot [privacy data omitted] landed N53377, a Cessna 188-A188B, on county road 388, between osage and… 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.