Sedona Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sedona, Arizona 86336
Saturday, June 16, 2001 12:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The single engine airplane burned after the engine backfired during start. The private pilot attempted to draw the ensuing fire into the induction system by continuing the engine start procedures. However, when his attempts failed to extinguish the fire, he and a passenger attempted to extinguish the fire by expelling three fire extinguishers into the intake and exhaust area of the engine cowling. The attempts were unsuccessful, and when the fire department arrived (15 minutes later), the airplane was engulfed in flames. The cause of the backfire was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the induction manifold fire resulting from an engine backfire during engine start. The reason for the engine backfire was not determined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Sedona
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86336
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 345055N
Event Location Longitude 1114719W
Event Location Airport Sedona
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEZ
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 4827
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KFLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.37
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15194
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-AZ-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4299Q
NTSB Number LAX01LA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8390052
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 May 10 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 4475
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Falcon Executive Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4766 E. Falcon Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Mesa
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85205
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 SEZ
Departure City Sedona
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City Mesa
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - starting engine(s)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2004 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 5131
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --