# NTSB MIA99LA013: Cessna 172N, N5918E, Lawrenceville, GA, October 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1998, 15:54 local (19:54 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, GA - Coordinates: 33.940219, -83.929924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9402&lon=-83.9299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45136 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45136/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA013 ## Probable cause A fire from an undetermined origin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - to takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis While holding short for takeoff, a fire of unknown origin started near the left interior kick panel at cockpit floor level that spread so fast that the pilot only had time to shut the engine down and evacuate the airplane from the right cabin door. The airplane was consumed by fire within a matter of 4 to 6 minutes. There was no hand fire extinguisher installed. FAA investigators could find no positive ignition source. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1998, about 1554 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5918E, registered to Flight School of Gwinnett, Inc., caught fire and burned on the taxiway at Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field, Lawrenceville, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by fire. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot stated that after engine start, he received tower instructions to taxi and hold short of runway 25. He stated that while holding short in the run-up area, he felt heat from the left side of the floorboard, and rechecked that his cabin heater control was off. He looked at the left side interior kick panel and discovered flames from the floorboard to about 18 inches up the panel. The pilot shut the engine down using his mixture control and magneto switch, evacuated the airplane from the right side door, ran to an adjacent aircraft waiting for takeoff, and asked the pilot to report the fire to the tower. The pilot stated that the fixed-base operator manager told him the interior post light was inoperative. He further stated he was not a smoker. Subsequent investigation by FAA personnel did not reveal a positive ignition source. Reference to Cessna 172 aircraft diagrams shows fuel lines are routed close to the area that the pilot first noticed heat and flames. The airplane had undergone a recent 100-hour inspection on October 19, 1998, and a new navigation/communication radio was installed at that time. The airplane had accumulated 13.5 hours since that inspection. There was no fire extinguisher installed in the aircraft. Title 14 CFR Part 91.513 states, "At least one hand fire extinguisher must be provided and located on or near the flight deck in a place that is readily accessible to the flight crew." The airport does not have its own dedicated firefighting force, and instead, depends on a municipal firefighting capability located about 3 miles from the airport. The response time for the first fire unit to arrive at the scene was about 10 minutes. The tower personnel stated they thought the response time was acceptable, given the time of day and the traffic. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5918E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5918E-2001-11-02), registration cancelled 2001-11-02, S/N 17271960, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271960 - Airframe hours: 2208 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flight School Of Gwinnett Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1998, 14 hours before - Departed: LZU - Destination: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA - Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County-Briscoe, runway 25, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,563 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,454 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 33 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 19981023030229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981023030229A), Oct 23, 1998: Cessna 172N, Lawrenceville, GA, Destroyed. After exiting the run up area for RY25, acft began taxiing to the hold short line for departure and caught fire while taxiing. (-23) this aircraft was rented… ## Other investigations on N5918E (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 ATL91LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA182), Sep 29, 1991: Cessna 172N (N5918E), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT. 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.