Amateur-built LANCAIR 235M N18TN accident near Monroe Center, Illinois

Probable cause

The in-flight fire for a reason that could not be determined due to extensive damage from the fire.

NTSB analysis

As he was approaching the destination airport, the pilot of the amateur-built airplane reported that the airplane was on fire. The pilot landed the airplane in a cornfield with its wings level and at a 5 degree descent angle. He was not able to exit the airplane and perished. Examination of the airplane showed that the fire was concentrated in the area between the airplane’s firewall and instrument panel where the fuselage-mounted header tank would have been. Only portions of the header tank and the fuel system within the cockpit were identifiable. The remainder of the fuel system components were consumed by the fire. The postaccident examination did not show any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or abnormalities, although the damage was too extensive to determine the reason for the in-flight fire.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12FA395 for the full record.