Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Destin, Florida 32541
Saturday, February 1, 1992 11:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STARTED THE ENG & LEFT THE AUX FUEL BOOST PUMP ON. WHILE TAXIING TO TAKE OFF, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENG BUT OBSERVED FLAMES FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENG COWLING. THE PLT & PAX EXITED THE ACFT BUT THE PLT LEFT THE MASTER & AUXILIARY FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCHES ON, WHICH CONTINUED TO FEED FUEL TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AFTER THE MASTER SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF & CHEMICAL APPLIED TO THE FIRE. ACCORDING TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO EXAMINED THE ACFT, IN HIS OPINION, THE PLT FLOODED THE ENG WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT, & DUE TO THE EXCESS FUEL, THE ENG BACKFIRED & THE EXCESS FUEL CAUGHT FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 2/1/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DESTIN
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32541
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DESTIN-FORT WALTON BEACH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 81J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 22
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45795
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7909W
NTSB Number MIA92IA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-1942
Certified Max Gross Weight 2175
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2914
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BARBREE, B.J. & MICHELLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 131 COUNTRY CLUB RD.
Aircraft Owner City SHALIMAR
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32579
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BARBREE, B.J. & MICHELLE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 131 COUNTRY CLUB RD.
Operator City SHALIMAR
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32579
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --