Dec 31, 1998
Accident
Destroyed ESPARTO, CA
Injuries1 serious, 1 minor
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 091
Probable Cause
The owner's inadequate condition (annual) inspection, which failed to detect a loose fuel pump output line attachment fitting, which resulted in an in-flight fire. A factor in the hard landing and ground loop was the pilot's inability to see through the smoke filling the cockpit.
NTSB LAX99LA063