Summary
On April 01, 2010, a Cessna 182F (N3320U) was involved in an incident near Wichita Falls, TX. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: A fire of undetermined origin.
On April 1, 2010, about 1650 central standard time, a Cessna C-182F airplane, N3320U, was substantially damaged after catching fire during taxi for takeoff at Kickapoo Downtown Airport (CWC), Wichita Falls, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated he was taxiing to the runway when he smelled an “electrical” smell in the cockpit. He then saw smoke coming from the instrument panel. He stopped the airplane and shut it down. As he exited the airplane he saw black smoke and flames coming from the instrument panel.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN10LA186. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3320U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A fire of undetermined origin.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 1, 2010, about 1650 central standard time, a Cessna C-182F airplane, N3320U, was substantially damaged after catching fire during taxi for takeoff at Kickapoo Downtown Airport (CWC), Wichita Falls, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated he was taxiing to the runway when he smelled an “electrical” smell in the cockpit. He then saw smoke coming from the instrument panel. He stopped the airplane and shut it down. As he exited the airplane he saw black smoke and flames coming from the instrument panel. The fire consumed most of the airplane fuselage aft of the engine firewall.
The airplane maintenance records were in the airplane at the time of the accident and were consumed by the fire. According to the mechanic who performed regular maintenance on the airplane, the last annual inspection had occurred in March of 2009, and a new engine, battery, and landing light had been installed about 18 flight hours prior to the accident.
A postaccident examination of the wreckage was conducted by NTSB investigators. The origin of the fire could not be determined.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN10LA186