On July 25, 1984, a Bellanca 8GCBC (registration N88176) operated by Jacob Hoffner was involved in an aviation accident near Selz, ND. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Pilot smelled and saw smoke from the engine, which lost power. An emergency landing was made on a narrow dirt road. After exiting, fuel tanks exploded about two minutes later. Fire originated from the alternator torching fuel lines.
Incident
A pilot reported experiencing smoke from the engine, both by smell and sight, accompanied by a loss of power. The situation necessitated an emergency landing, which was executed on a narrow dirt road.
Sequence of Events
Upon bringing the aircraft to a stop, the pilot egressed and ran from the aircraft. Approximately two minutes after departing the aircraft, the fuel tanks exploded. The pilot did not mention shutting off the fuel supply or the ignition at any point during the emergency.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination revealed that the hottest part of the fire was located in the alternator. It appeared that the alternator had acted as a torch, igniting nearby fuel lines.