# NTSB FTW95LA012: Cessna 172H, N8181L, Moro, AR, October 9, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1994, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Moro, AR
- Coordinates: 34.789169, -90.979141 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7892&lon=-90.9791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19281
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19281/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA012

## Probable cause

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - engine compartment - fire (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING, POWER WAS APPLIED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT AROUND, AND THE ENGINE MADE A SOUND AND DIED. A RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED, THEN SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On October 9, 1994, at 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N8181L, was destroyed while taxiing at a private airstrip near Moro, Arkansas.  The private pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.

The pilot reported the following information.  After a normal landing, when power was applied during taxiing to turn the airplane around, the engine made a sound and died.  The pilot attempted to restart the engine, again a sound was heard, and then smoke and flames were observed coming out of the engine cowling.  The airplane burned in less than 10 minutes.  The pilot recalled smelling gas in the cockpit on the day of the accident.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the area forward of the firewall received very little thermal damage, and there was evidence of heat in the airbox.  The cabin heat was on, and it appeared that flames traveled through the heater ducting into the cabin.  The source of the fire could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8181L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8181L-1995-02-08), registration cancelled 1995-02-08, S/N 17256381 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256381
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mitchell, Terry L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1M1, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Airport: PVT, J & S Air Service

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 635 total, 450 in this make and model, 613 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19941009034409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941009034409A), Oct 9, 1994: Cessna 172H, Moro, AR, Destroyed. During turn around on runway engine died. Smoke on restart. Fire erupted. Failed keep cranking draw fire in intake.

## Other investigations on N8181L (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW74FPG28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FPG28), Oct 2, 1973: Cessna 172H (N8181L), Joiner, AR, substantial damage

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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