- Date
- January 25, 2004, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sanford, ME
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N6234MStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-05
- FAA report
- 20040125000939A
- Case key
- 58659
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
An engine fire for undetermined reasons during start-up.
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
The pilot primed the engine four times, and attempted a start-up. The engine initially started, but did not continue to run. The pilot then primed the engine two more times and attempted a restart. The engine did not restart, and the pilot noted smoke coming from the engine area. The pilot then exited the airplane, observed a fire, and tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. However, strong winds accelerated the fire, and the airplane was consumed. An examination of the wreckage could not determine the exact origin of the fire. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Factual narrative
On January 25, 2004, about 0900 eastern standard time, a Stinson 108-3, N6234M, was destroyed during engine start, while standing at Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Boire Field, Nashua, New Hampshire. No flight plan was filed for the intended personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he primed the engine four times, and attempted a start-up. The engine initially started, but did not continue to run. The pilot then primed the engine two more times and attempted a restart. The engine did not restart, and the pilot noted smoke coming from the engine area. The pilot then exited the airplane and observed a fire in the engine compartment. He tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher; however, the airplane was consumed. The pilot further stated that the fire originated in the carburetor box, and strong winds accelerated the fire.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. The inspector stated that the fire originated somewhere in the engine compartment, but he could not determine the exact location.
The reported wind at SFM, at 0855, were from 280 at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6234M
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-4234
- Airframe hours
- 1,933
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4165, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Laverne Haas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2003 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- SFM · Sanford, ME
- Destination
- ASH · Nashua, NH
- Airport
- SFM · Sanford Regional Airport
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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 28, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 360 total · 75 in this make and model · 344 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -2 °F, dew point -24 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- SFM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.