# NTSB FTW95LA089: Interstate S-1A, N37239, Amarillo, TX, January 12, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1995, 17:22 local (23:22 UTC)
- Place: Amarillo, TX
- Coordinates: 35.170833, -101.930297 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1708&lon=-101.9303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19336/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA089

## Probable cause

AN INFLIGHT FIRE, THE REASON FOR WHICH WAS UNDETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR AND CERTIFICATED PILOT HAD BEEN PRACTICING MANEUVERS FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES WHEN THEY SMELLED 'SOMETHING FUNNY.' SMOKE THEN APPEARED BENEATH THE FRONT FLOORBOARDS, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY FLAMES. THE INSTRUCTOR MADE A SUCCESSFUL OFF-AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING AND THE TWO PILOTS EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. EVIDENCE INDICATES THE FIRE WAS CONFINED AFT OF THE FIREWALL BUT THE IGNITION SOURCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE INTACT AND NO ANOMALIES NOTED.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 1995, at 1722 central standard time, N37239, an Interstate S-1A, was destroyed by fire after the pilots made a forced landing near Amarillo, Texas.  The flight instructor and the certificated pilot receiving instruction were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The following is based on the pilot/operator report and pilot interviews.  The pilots had been flying in the west practice area for 25 minutes, doing S-turns across a road and other commercial maneuvers.  The front seat pilot told the flight instructor he "smelled something funny."  Smoke appeared from beneath the front floorboards, followed shortly thereafter by flames.  The flight instructor made an emergency landing in an open field about four miles west of Amarillo, and both pilots evacuated the airplane.  The airplane was totally consumed by fire.

A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane and reported the fire was confined aft of the firewall, but he was unable to identify the ignition source.  The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system.  The engine and exhaust system were intact and no anomalies were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37239](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37239), registered now, S/N 82 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: INTERSTATE S-1A
- Registry model: [Interstate S-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/interstate-s-1a) (registry code 1850202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 82
- Airframe hours: 3783
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: The Flight School
- Registered owner: Jones, William C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 1, 1994, 41 hours before
- Departed: TDW, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,564 total, 71 in this make and model, 1,129 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AMA, 4 nm away

## 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 19950112000439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950112000439A), Jan 12, 1995: Arctic S1AARCTIC, Amarillo, TX, Destroyed. Smoke and flames in cockpit under front floor boards. Force landed. Orgin unknown. Possible exhaust defect.

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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