Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Manassas, Virginia, March 14, 2009
On March 14, 2009 at about 2:20 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N770EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Manassas, Virginia (Manassas Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fire of undetermined origin in the engine compartment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2009 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia · Manassas Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N770EZ · no longer on the register · serial 1276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing the airplane for departure, air traffic control alerted the pilot that his airplane's engine was on fire. The pilot responded by shutting down the engine, turning off the fuel selector and the electrical master switch, and exiting the airplane. Personnel from the local fixed based operator arrived and suppressed most of the fire until the local off-airport fire department could arrive to put out the remainder. The fire damage was limited to the right side of the engine compartment. The area of the origin for the fire was the right forward side of the engine compartment based on the severity of the damage. The exact source of fuel and ignition of the fire could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,939 hours in all; 187 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,840 as pilot in command; 1,073 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,092 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 29, 2008; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HEF Manassas VA
- Destination: FKL Franklin PA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from HEF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.