Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broadview Hts, Ohio 44141
Thursday, November 17, 1994 10:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS FLYING HIS 40-YEAR-OLD AIRPLANE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE LEVEL AT 5,000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED A CABIN HEATER FIRE. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED LOW TO THE GROUND, AS IF THE PILOT WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN AND COLLIDE WITH TREES. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A CABIN FIRE CENTERED AROUND THE CABIN FUEL HEATER (CFH) LOCATED BELOW THE AFT PASSENGER SEAT. THE MOST SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE HEATER FUEL CONTROL UNIT THAT WAS LARGELY MELTED AWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SAFETY VALVE INSTALLED IN THE SUPPLY LINE TO THE CFH. THE USE OF VIBRATION LOOPS AND FLEXIBLE LINES WAS ALSO NOT EVIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper installation of a cabin heater system, resulting in an in-flight fire and subsequent loss of control and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BROADVIEW HTS
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44141
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1035 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID CLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 792
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1903
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1527D
NTSB Number NYC95FA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 195A
Aircraft Series Identifier 195A
Aircraft Serial Number 7749
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3776
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAN SHAFFER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 267 UNIVERSITY STREET
Aircraft Owner City BEREA
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44017
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CLE
Departure City CLEVELAND
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1014
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 38D
Destination City SALEM
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --