NTSB Factual Report

On November 4, 2006, at 0440 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172G, N4368L, registered to a private owner and operated by a commercial-rated pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, caught of fire during engine start at the Dalton Municipal Airport, Dalton, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by fire, and the commercial-rated pilot was uninjured. The flight was originating for the Dalton Municipal Airport, at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he made a short cross-country flight to drop off a passenger. After the passenger's baggage was unloaded, the pilot returned to his airplane to depart. During the restart of the engine, a small flame "shot" from the exhaust pipe. The pilot stated that [he] "thought the engine exhaust was overheated, and he was going to let it cool down". He waited approximately 10 minutes before attempting to restart the engine. The pilot stated that he made a visual inspection of the engine compartment, and everything was in proper working order. During the second attempt to restart the engine the exhaust pipe caught on fire. The pilot jumped out of the airplane and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The pilot attempted to push the airplane away from the flames, but they were streaming from the engine compartment. The stream of fire led to the engine compartment where the fire became intense, and consumed the airplane.

According to the Cessna owner's manual: "Pumping the throttle may cause raw fuel to accumulate in the intake air duct, creating a fire hazard in the event of backfire. If this occurs, maintain a cranking action to suck flames into the engine. An outside attendent with a fire extinguisher is advised for cold starts without pre-heat".

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper starting procedures, which resulted in an on-ground engine fire.