Schlagenhauf LANCAIR IV N453A

Summary

On 25 May 1995 at about 20:51 local time, a Schlagenhauf LANCAIR IV registered N453A was involved in an accident near Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 1995 at 20:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Gastonia, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.2095, -81.2302

Aircraft

Schlagenhauf LANCAIR IV

Registration

N453A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95FA099

2 people died.

An in-flight fire of undetermined origin that resulted in a loss of control and impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE, IN-FLIGHT, WITH SMOKE AND FIRE TRAILING ALONG THE BELLY OF THE AIRPLANE. THE FLAMES AND SMOKE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE AFT END OF THE ENGINE COWL. SOOT TRAILS WERE FOUND, EXTERNALLY, ON THE CABIN DOOR AND THE RUDDER, THAT WERE ALIGNED WITH AERODYNAMIC AIR FLOW. THERE WAS HEAT DAMAGE TO INTERIOR COMPONENTS, IN THE AREA OF THE FIRE WALL & NOSE GEAR WELL. THE GREATEST FIRE DAMAGE WAS TO THE NOSE WHEEL, THE NOSE WHEEL WELL, AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. IMPACT AND GROUND FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED A DETERMINATION OF THE FIRE INITIATION POINT AND THE IGNITION SOURCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.