- Date
- August 26, 1995, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place
- Williamson, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N9293HCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950826026069A
- Case key
- 39038
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
the loss of engine power and the eruption of a fire for undetermined reasons.
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 landed and attempted to taxi to the ramp. When he added power from idle to 1000 rpm, the engine lost all power. He attempted to restart the engine, but there was a 'loud' backfire. The pilot reported 'a vapor-like smoke around the engine....flames surrounded the entire engine cowling.' He attempted to extinguish the fire, but it grew stronger, and he was not successful. The engine and carburetor were examined in an effort to determine the origin of the fire. There was evidence 'that raw fuel entered the engine compartment and ignited.' However, due to the fire damage, the origin of fuel entering the engine compartment was not determined.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 1995, about 1550 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N9293H, was destroyed while taxiing to the parking ramp, after landing, at the Perry Airport, Williamson, New York. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane had landed on runway 28, and the pilot was taxiing to the ramp, when the engine lost total power. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2:
...after putting power back to 1000 RPM from idle...the airplane's engine stalled. I...attempted to restart the engine. After approximately 30 seconds of cranking on and off, with power set at 1/2 inch in, there was a loud backfire and a vapor-like smoke around the engine...flames surrounded the entire engine cowling. My passenger and myself imediatly exited the aircraft, and I grabbed the fire extinguisher...I tried to extinguish the fire but it grew stronger...I ran to the office...and found another extinguisher...I again tried to extinguish the flames but was unable to.
The FAA examined the engine and carburetor, in an effort to determine the origin of the fire. The examination reveled, "that raw fuel entered the engine compartment and ignited." Due to fire damage, the origin of the fuel entering the engine compartment was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9293H
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17266073
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Perry Warsaw Airport Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 3G7
- Airport
- 3G7 · Perry, runway 28, 3,375 × 40 ft, asphalt
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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 112 total · 18 in this make and model · 57 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.