From hcarl@freeway.net Tue Apr  9 12:47:59 1996

Leaving Oshkosh the weather was broken with ceiling at 9000'
climbing to our altitude,  my son who was 14 years old at the time
sat by my side.  Heading North along the shoreline of Wisconsin we 
talked of the great time we had.

Looking off my shoulder over the left wing the Washington Island group
came into sight.  Rich,my son, leaned over to see more of the island 
group, his foot moved under the right seat and came in contact
with a fire extinguisher.  The vibration of the plane must have 
worked the safety pin free exposing the armed handle.

Instant IFR, the cockpit was filled with yellow fire retardent dust.
Coughing and choking the door would not open,  unlatching the small
observation window on my side helped slightly.  I powered back
and pulled the nose up to slow the bird down,  we opened the door
and cleared the cabin of the sufficating dust.

Landing in Pellston I dropped the fire extinguisher into the first
junk barrel I came to.

Never put one of those killers into any aircraft.  Thinking in 
terms of the many IFR approches I had shot,  Thank goodness it
didn't go off then.

PS we now use Halon

Herb