Primary finding
Probable cause
An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Following a run-up, the pilot and passenger departed in the single-engine airplane. Shortly after reaching 800 feet in altitude, the pilot observed orange flames in the area of the glare shield. The pilot elected to pull the engine throttle to idle, switched off the ignition switch, and performed a dead-stick landing. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted before the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot reported that the logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the fire, and was unsure when the last annual inspection was performed. An examination after the accident revealed that the airplane's fabric covering was fully consumed in the ensuing fire. Due to the extent of the damage, the fire's ignition source was not located.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 18, 2009, about 1430 central daylight time, a McClish Funk B85C airplane, N81167, was destroyed following a cockpit fire during initial climb and a subsequent successful landing at the Coffeyville Municipal Airport (CFV), Coffeyville, Kansas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local flight. According to the pilot, following a "normal" run-up he departed from runway 04. Shortly after reaching 800 feet in altitude, the pilot observed orange flames in the area of the glare shield. The pilot elected to pull the engine throttle to idle, switched off the ignition switch, and performed a dead stick landing to runway 36. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted before the airplane was engulfed in flames. The pilot did not hold a current medical and his last bi-annual flight review was on June 26, 2006. The pilot reported that the logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the fire, and was unsure when the last annual inspection was performed. An examination after the accident revealed that the airplane's fabric covering was fully consumed in the ensuing fire. The fire's ignition source was not located.