Definition
A fire that ignites in or around an aircraft after an impact event, typically fueled by spilled aviation fuel coming into contact with hot engine components, sparks from damaged electrical systems, or friction-generated ignition sources during the impact sequence.
Plain English
A fire that starts after a crash, usually when leaking fuel reaches something hot or sparking from the wreckage.
Context Anchor
Seen in accident survivability discussions, emergency procedures, and airplane design features meant to reduce fire risk after impact.
Derivation
“Post-” means “after.” In this term, it points to a hazard that happens after the crash, not the impact itself.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots take specific steps before touchdown in a forced landing to reduce the chance of a post-crash fire and improve survival odds.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just any aircraft fire. A post-crash fire specifically means a fire that begins after the aircraft has crashed, usually because damaged parts let fuel or another burnable material reach a heat or spark source.
Example Sentence 1
Modern fuel system designs aim to reduce the risk of a post-crash fire by limiting fuel spillage when the airframe is damaged.
Example Sentence 2
After the gear-up landing the crew quickly exited because a post-crash fire could start at any moment.