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LAX91LA235

1991-06-01 · GLENDALE, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GEU

N14SC has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (SOCATA TBM 700, built 2011), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SECURE THE FUEL CAP DURING HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AS A RESULT, FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE WING TANK ONTO THE WING AND IGNITED DURING THE ENGINE START PROCEDURES.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED HE DID NOT ENSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING FUEL CAP HAD BEEN LOCKED FOLLOWING REFUELING. WHEN THE PILOT AND HIS PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE ON THEIR TAKEOFF ROLL THE PASSENGER OBSERVED FUEL SPILLING ON THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENGINE TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO SECURE THE CAP. WHEN THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT WING. THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITH ITS ENGINE RUNNING. WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED ROLLING TOWARD BYSTANDERS AND PARKED AIRPLANES, THE PILOT GRABBED ONTO ITS TAIL AND REDIRECTED IT INTO A POLE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA235.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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