Cessna 172K N7031G
8 September 1991 · Bullhead City, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 8 September 1991 at about 04:55 local time, a Cessna 172K registered N7031G, operated by Sheble Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 04:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bullhead City, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Bullhead City (PO6)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K
- Registration
- N7031G
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sheble Aviation Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Las Vegas → Blythe
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX91FA386
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND WERE APPROACHING AN AIRPORT FOR LANDING WHEN SHE STATED THAT THEY HAD AN INFLIGHT CABIN FIRE. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WHERE THEY HAD JUST BEEN MARRIED. PRIOR TO REACHING THE INTENDED AIRPORT, SHE STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE OVERHEAD LIGHT CONSOLE WHICH HOUSES 2 RHEOSTATS AND A LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRE BEGAN TO BURN THE HEADLINER AND PLASTIC CONSOLE. THE BURNING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ONTO THEIR BODIES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL NEAR THE RUNWAY IN THE DIRT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CABIN FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A DUPLICATE CONSOLE WAS TESTED. WHEN THE DOOR POST LIGHT WAS SHORTED, THE LIGHTING RHEOSTAT IN THE CONSOLE REACHED IN EXCESS OF 1425 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT A CIRCUIT LOAD 6 AMPS MAXIMUM. THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A 10 AMP BREAKER. THE OVERHEAD CABIN PLASTIC MATERIAL WAS FOUND TO READILY BURN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172P | College Park, Maryland, United States | Civil Air Patrol, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Eximous Flying Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172H | Morehead, Kentucky, United States | Roger Wend | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172A | Hood River, Oregon, United States | Paul J. Welp | No injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1991 | Cessna 172M | Ogden, Utah, United States | Alta Aircraft | No injuries | - |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164B | Arizona City, Arizona, United States | Al-Don Dusting SVC., Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 177 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Michael P. Turner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Aerovision, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Eagle DW1 | Poston, Arizona, United States | Michael Morris | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Experimental DSA-1 | Kingman, Arizona, United States | James D. Janson | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1991 | Cessna 402C | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Sierra Nevada Airways | No injuries | - |