Greenwood Lefore Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greenwood, Mississippi 38930
Saturday, January 20, 2001 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he noticed smoke in the cabin, and turned around and saw flames behind him. He turned off the master switch and turned the airplane back towards the airport. The pilot landed on the grass next to the runway, and exited the airplane. Suddenly, the pilot executed a left turn and returned to the airport. The controller observed smoke coming from the airplane as the pilot maneuvered the airplane for an emergency landing on the airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons. Finding: A factor is the maintenance modification was performed by company personnel prior to the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GREENWOOD
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38930
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Greenwood Lefore
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GWO
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 162
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GWO
Elevation of weather observation facility 150
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.37
Density Altitude (feet) -1875
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10209
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 20 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1953
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office JACKSON FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7882U
NTSB Number ATL01LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172 F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17251882
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4608
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMPSON AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 475
Aircraft Owner City GREENWOOD
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38930
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name JIMMY LEON THOMPSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1 BOX 475
Operator City GREENWOOD
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38930
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 GWO
Departure City GREENWOOD
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GWO
Destination City GREENWOOD
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 11 2001 1:58PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 6503
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --