# NTSB MKC89LA066: Cessna 182RG, N4314R, Ft. Madison, IA, February 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1989, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Madison, IA
- Coordinates: 40.610687, -91.350425 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6107&lon=-91.3504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA066

## Probable cause

AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORT THAT CAUSED AN IN FLIGHT FIRE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - not performed, pilot in command
  - fire extinguisher - not installed
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND DURING INITIAL CLIMB, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE PAX SIDE. TURNING DOWNWIND, THE SMOKE BECAME WORSE AND ERUPTED INTO A FIRE. THE SMOKE, ALONG WITH THE CHARRED WINDSIELD, LIMITED VISIBILITY TO THE POINT THAT THE PAX DOOR AND THE PILOT'S WINDOW WERE OPENED BY THE CREW. THIS CAUSED THE FIRE TO BURN MORE INTENSELY. THE PLT EXISTED THE ACFT AFTER LANDING AND COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FBO. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HOT WIRE FROM THE AMPERAGE METER WAS RUBBING ON THE FUEL PRESSURE INDICATOR LINE, HAD SHORTED AND BURNED THROUGH, CAUSING THE INFLIGHT FIRE IN THE COCKPIT. THE ACFT WAS OVERDUE ANNUAL AND HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 234 HRS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4314R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4314R-1998-03-26), registration cancelled 1998-03-26, S/N R18200589 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182RG
- Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R182000589
- Airframe hours: 927
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-L3CD 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Spears, Donald E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 1987, 234 hours before
- Departed: K27, FT. MADISON, IA
- Destination: 3DW, SPRINGFIELD, MO
- Airport: K27, Ft. Madison, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 45 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRL, 15 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 19890225002789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890225002789A), Feb 25, 1989: Cessna TR182, Ft Madison, IA, Substantial damage. Fire and smoke from defroster vent. Landed with windshield charred. Hot wire to amp gauge shorted, burned fuel line

## Other investigations on N4314R (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 FTW96TA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96TA289), Jul 2, 1996: Cessna 182RG (N4314R), Broomfield, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control and runway alignment during a go-around, and the lack of power response from the engine for undetermined reason(s). The sudden wind shift was a…

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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