Incident Overview
A banner-towing aircraft was returning to the airport when smoke entered the cockpit and a small fire began burning forward of the left/lower part of the firewall. The pilot turned the aircraft to land in a field. He opened the right cabin door, all air vents, and the left-side window, but the fire and smoke worsened. He released the banner in an open field and slipped the aircraft to improve his ability to see during the landing.
Landing and Post-Impact Fire
After touchdown, the nose gear failed and the aircraft nosed over and burned. The pilot exited the aircraft without injuries but was treated for smoke inhalation.
Evidence of Inflight Fire
Evidence of an inflight fire was found where the fuel line was routed in the area just forward of the firewall and the pilot's left rudder pedal. The fuel strainer and some fuel line connectors were located in this area. They were not burned, but they had been exposed to heat.