- Date
- November 10, 1993, 18:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N1600BCessna 421
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931110042579A
- Case key
- 37456
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
Failure of the pilot-in-command to obtain the proper assistance after being notified of a fuel leak from the left wing fuel tanks after refueling.
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
After the fuel tanks were filled, the lineman observed fuel on the ground near the left main landing gear. The lineman notified the pilot of this who responded that the leakage was due to overfilling of the tanks. The airplane was moved and during the left engine start, the engine backfired followed by an explosion and fire near the left engine nacelle area.
Factual narrative
On November 10, 1993, about 1852 eastern standard time, a Cessna 421, N1600B, listed by the FAA as being sold to Spec Industry and Commerce Ltda of Brazil, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a fire in the vicinity of the left wing during engine start. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
After the fuel tanks were filled, the lineman noticed a fuel leak under the left wing and advised the pilot of this. The pilot told him that the fuel leak was because the fuel tanks were overfilled. The airplane was then pushed forward and when the pilot was starting the left engine, the engine backfired and an explosion occurred, followed by a fire near the engine nacelle area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1600B
- Reported as
- Cessna 421
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421-0092
- Engine
- Continental GTSIO-520-D, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Spec Ind. Com. Ltda
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- GTK · Grand Turk, OF
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- OPF · Opa-Locka
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
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,300 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 40° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OPF, 1 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.
Other investigations on N1600B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.