Primary finding
Probable cause
A fire during the engine run-up for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was performing an engine run-up before takeoff in his experimental airplane when the engine lost all power. He exited the airplane to examine the engine and noticed a fire, which quickly spread and consumed most of the airplane. Due to extensive fire damage, the origin of and reason for the fire could not be determined.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 18, 2019, about 1930 central daylight time, an kit-built Best Off Skyranger airplane, N1671, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Halliburton Field Airport (DUC), Duncan, Oklahoma. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated he taxied from his hangar and performed an engine run, during which the engine lost total power. As he exited the airplane to examine the engine, the pilot noticed a fire had started below the front of the airplane. The fire quickly spread and burned most of the airplane. Examination of the fire damaged wreckage did not reveal a fire initiating event.