# NTSB WPR18LA207: Cessna 172, N785SP, Mount Vernon, OH, July 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2018, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Mount Vernon, OH - Coordinates: 40.328887, -82.526107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3289&lon=-82.5261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97923 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97923/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97923 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA207 ## Probable cause An in-flight fuel-fed fire from an unknown source for reasons that could not be determined due to the extensive fire damage to the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [After landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, several minutes after takeoff for the personal flight, he maneuvered the airplane to enter the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. Shortly after, he noticed a fire near the rudder pedals. He expedited his approach, and the fire continued to grow while he landed the airplane. After landing, he safely egressed from the airplane; a few seconds later, the cockpit area was engulfed in flames. The airplane was destroyed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed evidence of a fuel-fed fire that had emanated from the rear, lower center portion of the engine. Extensive thermal damage was in the area where the mechanical fuel pump is mounted to the oil cooler. The oil cooler's bottom hose connection was separated from the oil cooler, and the fuel pump's bottom portion was missing. Due to the fire damage, the exact initiation point and source of the fire could not be determined. There were no maintenance write-ups indicating a fuel leak or odors in the previous 20 flight hours. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2018, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N785SP, was destroyed following an inflight fire in the traffic pattern at Knox County Airport (4I3), Mount Vernon, Ohio. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that departed Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio, about 1025. The flight was destined for Zanesville Municipal Airport (ZZV), Zanesville, Ohio. According to the student, several minutes after takeoff, he maneuvered the airplane to enter the traffic pattern at 4I3, to accomplish touch-and-go landings. Initially, the student noticed his left foot was getting hot. Shortly thereafter, he noticed a fire near the rudder pedals. He pulled back the throttle and expedited his approach for landing. Subsequently, the fire continued to enlarge while he landed the airplane. After landing, he discharged the fire extinguisher and safely egressed from the airplane; a few seconds later the cockpit area was engulfed in flames. Postaccident examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors revealed that there was evidence of a fuel-fed fire, which emanated from the rear, lower center portion of the engine. Substantial thermal damage was observed in the area where the mechanical fuel pump is mounted to the oil cooler. The bottom hose connection was observed to be separated from the oil cooler. Furthermore, the bottom portion of the fuel pump was observed missing. The fire started and eventually enlarged from an unknown source that could not be determined from the available evidence. According to the FAA inspector, the airplane had complied with all appropriate Airworthiness Directives (ADs). Furthermore, the airplane had no maintenance write ups for fuel leaks or odors in the previous 20 flight hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N785SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N785SP-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 172S8712, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8712 - Year built: 2001 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VTA, Newark, OH - Destination: ZZV, Zanesville, OH - Airport: 4I3, Knox County, runway 28, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: 4I3 ## 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 20180728018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180728018199A), Jul 28, 2018: Cessna 172S, Mount Vernon, OH, Destroyed. Pilot?s statement: While crossing the numbers (28), I noticed flame behind the rudder pedals. I got the plane to a stop and the fire got bigger. I bailed out… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97923. 698 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email (FAA Front Line Manager) (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20(FAA%20Front%20Line%20Manager)-Master.PDF - Record of Email 2 (FAA Front Line Manager) (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%202%20(FAA%20Front%20Line%20Manager)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.