1990 Lincoln Town Car: Case Study Origin, Propagation and Summary

Origin and Propagation: While there were some differences in heat and extent of consumption, all areas of the vehicle were substantially burned and most combustibles were consumed. No definitive evidence of propagation direction remained. The likely path is from gasoline underneath, burning hottest on the left, then propagating forward. Even if transmission fluid was the ignition source, it was likely to have leaked out immediately upon impact leaving little fuel for continued combustion. Sheet metal was torn and spot welds broken in several locations. The trunk floor was torn adjacent to the gas tank. Sheet metal was separated at the floor-to-sill junction by both sides of the rear seats and forward to the 'B' pillar. The back light and rear side windows also broke during impact. Right side doors were open during the fire due to impact damage (this was confirmed by the investigating police officer). The area behind the rear seat, largely free of a metal barrier, was also a potential propagation path.

Torn sheetmetal in trunk and elsewhere provided propagation paths for the fire

A witness reported that fire began in the Town Car immediately after impact. The vehicle was fully engulfed by the time the fire department arrived 11 to 12 minutes after impact. At their time of arrival, the vehicle was in flames from front to back, all four tires were involved, and metal was bending from heat.