Cessna 172K accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 4:55 am local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7031G, was destroyed in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 4:55 am local time
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead City
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7031G · no longer on the register · serial 17258731
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND WERE APPROACHING AN AIRPORT FOR LANDING WHEN SHE STATED THAT THEY HAD AN INFLIGHT CABIN FIRE. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WHERE THEY HAD JUST BEEN MARRIED. PRIOR TO REACHING THE INTENDED AIRPORT, SHE STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE OVERHEAD LIGHT CONSOLE WHICH HOUSES 2 RHEOSTATS AND A LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRE BEGAN TO BURN THE HEADLINER AND PLASTIC CONSOLE. THE BURNING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING ONTO THEIR BODIES. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL NEAR THE RUNWAY IN THE DIRT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CABIN FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A DUPLICATE CONSOLE WAS TESTED. WHEN THE DOOR POST LIGHT WAS SHORTED, THE LIGHTING RHEOSTAT IN THE CONSOLE REACHED IN EXCESS OF 1425 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT A CIRCUIT LOAD 6 AMPS MAXIMUM. THE CIRCUIT IS PROTECTED BY A 10 AMP BREAKER. THE OVERHEAD CABIN PLASTIC MATERIAL WAS FOUND TO READILY BURN.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,832 hours in all; 61 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sheble Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 4:10 am
- Destination: BUT Blythe CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.