Baer Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Wayne, Indiana 46809
Sunday, November 24, 1985 14:08 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A RIGHT ENG FIRE DURING ENG START. THE PLT REPORTED THE RIGHT ENG WOULD NOT START DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPT. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT STARTING THE ENG, IT STARTED. WHILE RUNNING THE ENG ON THE PRIMER, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENG. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RUN THE ENG TO DRAW THE FLAMES INTO THE INTAKE, HOWEVER, THIS FAILED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE PLT SECURED THE ACFT AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE WAS THEN COMPLETELY ENTINGUISHED BY THE ARPT FIRE DEPT. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE RIGHT ENG CARB FLOAT ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED ALLOWING THE FLOAT TO SINK. WHEN THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS USED FOR STARTING THE ENG THE FUEL WAS ALLOWED TO FLOW THROUGH THE CARB INTO THE INTAKE SCOOP AND ONTO THE ACFT AND GROUND BELOW THE ACFT. THE ENG BACKFIRE, HEARD BY THE PLT, THEN IGNITED THE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/24/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1408
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FORT WAYNE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46809
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BAER FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FWA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2223
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 25 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29625
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N46L
NTSB Number CHI86FEX04
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model E18S
Aircraft Series Identifier E18S
Aircraft Serial Number BA379
Certified Max Gross Weight 10000
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 18 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 192
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANIEL J. WETLI
Aircraft Owner Street Address R.R. 2, BOX 68G
Aircraft Owner City ANTWERP
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45813
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SUMMIT CITY AIR CHARTER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7618 BRIDGEWATER DRIVE
Operator City FORT WAYNE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46825
Operator Code JHYA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10:36AM
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 --