# NTSB SEA94LA088: Mikoyan MiG MIG-17T, N306DM, Aurora, OR, March 1, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1994, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, OR
- Coordinates: 45.229167, -122.800674 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2292&lon=-122.8007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41899/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA088

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF A METAL FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, climb
  - fuel system,line - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN EXPLOSION IN THE TAIL OF THE MIG-17T.  HE RETURNED TO THE FIELD AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  INSPECTION REVEALED THAT AN ALUMINUM FUEL LINE IN THE AFT SECTION HAD EXPERIENCED METALLURGICAL FAILURE.  THE OWNER ADVISED ALL OTHER MIG-17 OPERATORS TO REPLACE THAT, AND OTHER, FUEL LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES.

## Factual narrative

On March 1, 1994, at 1330 Pacific standard time, a Mikoyan- Gurevich MiG-17T, N306DM, sustained substantial damage after an in-flight fire shortly after takeoff from the Aurora, Oregon, airport.  The ATP pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the local flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that the former military jet fighter, operated under experimental exhibition category provisions, had .9 hours on the engine since overhaul.  He used an afterburner takeoff from runway 17 at Aurora.  Climbing through about 500 feet, he felt an explosion and rudder vibration, pulled back the power, and selected afterburner off.  He declared an emergency, returned to the airport, landing within a couple minutes of takeoff, where the fire department put out the fire.  Investigation revealed that an alloy fuel line failed, allowing fuel to flow aft, where an electrical invertor in the tail ignited the fuel.  Damage due to the fire was substantial.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N306DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306DM-1994-05-26), registration cancelled 1994-05-26, S/N 0714 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mikoyan MiG MIG-17T
- Registry model: [State Aircraft Factories MIG-17T](https://openairdocs.org/model/state-aircraft-factories-mig-17t) (registry code 05612PJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0714
- Airframe hours: 1847
- Engines: CHINA WP5/BK1 5000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William R. Reesman
- Registered owner: Yak Attack, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 15, 1994, 0 hours before
- Airport: 3S2, Aurora State Airport, runway 17, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,000 total, 103 in this make and model, 5,272 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19940301006139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940301006139A), Mar 1, 1994: Sngyng MIG17UTI, Aurora, OR, Substantial damage. Explosion and rudder vibrations climbout. Returned. Fire put out. Fuel line failed. Tail inverter ignited fuel.

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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