Cessna 414 incident near Midland, Texas, March 19, 2004
On March 19, 2004, a Cessna 414, registered N414FB, suffered minor damage in an incident near Midland, Texas (Midland International 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
The in-flight wing fire for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2004
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland International · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N414FB · registry record · serial 414A1203
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 3,000-hour pilot reported that after takeoff, he noticed that fuel flow indication was not working properly, and he chose to return to the airport for a precautionary landing. During the approach, the nose landing gear indication light did not illuminate, and an the emergency gear extension procedure was performed. As the airplane continued to the airport, the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls for the right engine became "very stiff, almost immoveable." During landing roll, the pilot noted "braking on the right side was minimal." After landing, further investigation revealed a small in-flight fire had occurred in the right wing. The reason for the in flight fire was undetermined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,841.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2003; 157.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,087 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX
- Destination: LNC Lancaster TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 8,302 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.