Accident Overview
On July 16, 2018, at approximately 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, registration N182GQ, experienced a fire after landing at Odessa-Schlemeyer Field (ODO) in Odessa, Texas. The aircraft, operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, was substantially damaged. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
Incident Description
Following the landing, the pilot detected a smell of smoke. In response, the pilot shut down the engine and exited the aircraft. Upon egress, the pilot observed fire emanating from the vicinity of the baggage compartment. The fire subsequently consumed a majority of the fuselage and the inboard portions of both wings.
Investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage but could not identify a source of ignition. The inspector provided photographs to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory Fire & Explosion Specialist. After reviewing the images, the specialist concluded that the extent of fire damage was so severe that determining a point of origin would be both difficult and unreliable.
The pilot reported that a lithium-ion battery had recently been installed in the emergency locator transmitter (ELT). Because this battery was considered a potential ignition source, the ELT was removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. However, analysis of the batteries revealed no signatures of failure that would indicate it was the fire's point of origin. Ultimately, investigators were unable to determine the source of the fire.