Sanford Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Maine 04073
Sunday, January 25, 2004 9:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot primed the engine four times, and attempted a start-up. The engine initially started, but did not continue to run. The pilot then primed the engine two more times and attempted a restart. The engine did not restart, and the pilot noted smoke coming from the engine area. The pilot then exited the airplane, observed a fire, and tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. However, strong winds accelerated the fire, and the airplane was consumed. An examination of the wreckage could not determine the exact origin of the fire. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An engine fire for undetermined reasons during start-up.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/25/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Sanford
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04073
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432338N
Event Location Longitude 0704229W
Event Location Airport Sanford Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFM
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 244
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SFM
Elevation of weather observation facility 244
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) -19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -31
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
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) 16601
NTSB Notification Source NROC
NTSB Notification Date Jan 25 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, ME

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6234M
NTSB Number NYC04LA060
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 Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 108-4234
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 1933
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Laverne Haas
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bedford
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03110
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 SFM
Departure City Sanford
Departure State ME
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ASH
Destination City Nashua
Destination State NH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - starting engine(s)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2004 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --