DevX, midday in the Nevada desert you suggest the surface temperature would not be 110ºF in the sun, which it would have been seconds before the aircraft cast its shadow. I think it is very possible. Surface temperature of runways in those conditions are often a lot higher than air temperature, often 50-60ºC, roughly 120-140ºF. At the time of the accident the air temperature was 39ºC, that is already 102ºF in the shade. The actual flash point of Jet-A fuel is 100ºF/38ºC.
Last edited by Ka-2b Pilot; 12th Sep 2015 at 21:04.
Reason: To add temperature recorded around the time of the accident. Again to add the correct flash point for Jet-A type fuel.