Cessna 195A accident near Broadview Hts, Ohio, November 17, 1994
On November 17, 1994 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 195A, registered N1527D, was destroyed in an accident near Broadview Hts, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper installation of a cabin heater system, resulting in an in-flight fire and subsequent loss of control and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1994 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Broadview Hts, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N1527D · no longer on the register · serial 7749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING HIS 40-YEAR-OLD AIRPLANE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE LEVEL AT 5,000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED A CABIN HEATER FIRE. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED LOW TO THE GROUND, AS IF THE PILOT WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN AND COLLIDE WITH TREES. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A CABIN FIRE CENTERED AROUND THE CABIN FUEL HEATER (CFH) LOCATED BELOW THE AFT PASSENGER SEAT. THE MOST SEVERE FIRE DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE HEATER FUEL CONTROL UNIT THAT WAS LARGELY MELTED AWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SAFETY VALVE INSTALLED IN THE SUPPLY LINE TO THE CFH. THE USE OF VIBRATION LOOPS AND FLEXIBLE LINES WAS ALSO NOT EVIDENT.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,025 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,776 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLE Cleveland OH at 3:14 pm
- Destination: 38D Salem OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from CLE, 10 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N1527D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.