- Date
- April 6, 2007, 17:00 local (Apr 7, 2007, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chiriaco Summit, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N8340BCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20070406005539A
- Case key
- 65547
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
Engine fire during start-up 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
During engine start, an engine fire started and consumed the airplane. The pilot applied primer and began to start the engine. He heard a backfire and flames emitted from the engine. He continued the engine start attempt; however, the flames became too excessive and the pilot and passenger were forced to evacuate the airplane. Post accident examination of the wreckage by the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator showed no mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On April 6, 2007, at 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N8340B, was destroyed by fire while standing during engine start at Chiriaco Summit Airport, Chiriaco Summit, California. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot, who was also the registered owner of the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was initiating when the accident occurred, and was destined for Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, Thermal, California.
The pilot reported that he and a passenger were preparing to depart for the return flight home. He applied primer and began to start the engine. The pilot heard a backfire and flames emitted from the engine. He continued the engine start attempt. When the flames became too excessive, the pilot and passenger exited the airplane. By the time fire department personnel arrived, the fire had destroyed the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the wreckage on April 28, 2007. The entire aircraft was consumed by fire. A large concentration of fire damage to the engine area was near the air inlet to the carburetor. The carburetor was disassembled and no abnormalities were noted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8340B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36140
- Airframe hours
- 3,364
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental O-300, 170 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2007 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- L77 · Chiriaco Summit, CA
- Destination
- TRM · J Cochran Rg AP, CA
- Airport
- L77 · Chiriaco Summit 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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 554 total · 32 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.64 inHg
- Observed at
- PSP, 41 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.