Meyers Aircraft Co. ME 200 accident near Chico, California, July 6, 1994
On July 6, 1994 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Meyers Aircraft Co. ME 200, registered N7MV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Chico Municipal airport). 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
A SEPARATION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE FROM THE CABIN HEAT CONTROL VALVE AND THE LACK OF INSULATION ON ELECTRICAL WIRING BETWEEN THE AMMETER AND THE AVIONICS BUS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1994 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Chico Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Meyers Aircraft Co. ME 200
- Registration
- N7MV · registry record · serial 289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE END OF THE EXHAUST PIPE WHERE THE EXHAUST SHROUD/MUFF CONNECTS TO THE CABIN HEAT CONTROL VALVE. ALSO FOUND WAS A LARGE ELECTRIC WIRE BETWEEN THE VOLT/AMMETER AND THE AVIONICS BUS COMPLETELY VOID OF ANY INSULATION. THE LOGBOOKS INDICATED NO ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED FOR SOME TIME.
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: 1,875 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 1,875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1994; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 052 Yuba City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31R, 6,724 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.