North American NAVION accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, October 3, 2024
On October 3, 2024 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1949 North American NAVION, registered N9117R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Rutherfordton, North Carolina (Rutherford County Airport/Marc). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight fire, the origin of which could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2024 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rutherfordton, North Carolina · Rutherford County Airport/Marc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NAVION, built 1949 · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N9117R · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 36 minutes after departure and while on final approach to land, the pilot heard a loud “pop” and felt heat emanating from an area behind the pilot and copilot’s seats. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, smoke accumulated in the cabin and visible flame developed. During the landing, the airplane’s nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The in-flight and postaccident fire consumed a majority of the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the auxiliary fuel tank. The right main fuel tank’s vent line was found attached, but its two hose clamps were not secured. A loose B nut was also observed on a high pressure hydraulic hose located at the controllable relief valve in the engine compartment. The majority of the fuel supply, vapor return, and vent lines were destroyed by fire. According to the airplane flight and service manuals, when the main tanks were full, use of the auxiliary fuel tank could result in vapor return fuel being expelled overboard through the main tank vent system until at least 1 hour of flight had been completed or 10 gallons of fuel had been consumed. A preaccident photograph showed the vent outlet located approximately 10 inches aft of, and generally aligned with, the left exhaust extension. The pilot reported departing with the fuel selector positioned to the auxiliary fuel tank and making no subsequent changes. Although overboard fuel expulsion from the main fuel tank vent line was the most likely source of fuel for the fire, hydraulic fluid from the loose B-nut could not be ruled out. Thermal exposure and wreckage movement likely contributed to the loose hydraulic fitting, making it a less likely fuel source; however, due to thermal damage the source of the fire could not be determined with confidence.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 124.7 hours in all; 53.7 in this make and model; 11.2 in the last 90 days; 4.9 in the last 30 days; 64.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,368.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: JQF Concord NC at 8:54 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from FQD
Weather report (METAR): KFQD 032125Z AUTO 20007KT 10SM CLR 26/17 A3010 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB 6120 1 Form | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Cellphone Video | MOV file | Download |
| 5 | Mor Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Mor Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | POH Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Service and Ipc Manual Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Wreckage Release Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA25LA007.