# NTSB NYC90LA056: Cessna 172, N9093H, Danbury, CT, January 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 16, 1990, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3715° N, 73.4822° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANBURY MUNI (DXR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36602/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA056

## Probable cause

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE DURING AN ATTEMPTED ENGINE START.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNSECURED FUEL LINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, standing - starting engine(s)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - not installed
  - fuel system,line - not secured (contributing factor)
  - induction air control,air filter/screen - not installed
  - nacelle/pylon,skin - not secured
  - dispatch - performed
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine compartment - fire (cause)

## Analysis

THE CESSNA 172 WAS INVOLVED IN A CARBURETOR FIRE ON 1/13/90 & TAKEN TO A HANGAR WHERE THE AIR CLEANER & CARBURETOR WERE REMOVED.  THE FUEL LINE WAS NOT CAPPED & THE LOWER COWLING WAS REATTACHED WITH ONLY TWO SCREWS HOLDING IT.  NO PLACARD WAS PLACED IN THE COCKPIT NOR WAS THE KEY MADE UNAVAILABLE FOR RENTAL.  THE PLANE WAS RETURNED TO THE LINE FOR PARKING. THREE DAYS LATER, A PILOT CAME TO THE AIRPORT, ASKED THE ATTENDANT FOR THE KEY & PROCEEDED TO THE PLANE.  HE SAID HE MADE A PREFLIGHT 'USING THE MANUAL.'  HE THEN ENTERED THE COCKPIT & ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE.  HOWEVER, A FIRE ERUPTED & THE PLT EXITED THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE FIRE, RECEIVING BURNS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9093H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9093H-1992-07-08), registration cancelled 1992-07-08, S/N 17265939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265939
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Reliant Pilot Training Center
- Registered owner: John R. Stanton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: DXR, Danbury

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 425 total, 60 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DXR

## 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 19900116000959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900116000959A), Jan 16, 1990: Cessna 172M, Danbury, CT, Destroyed. Fire erupted starting engine. Failed to note loose cowling. No air filter. Fuel line not capped.

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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