Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-22-160 near Frederick, OK — 2011-05-20

Final reportCEN11LA350
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Date
2011-05-20
Location
Frederick, OK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-22-160
Registration
N8957D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

About 20 minutes after the private pilot and his passenger departed on a local flight, the pilot noticed his feet were getting hot. He thought it might have been the cabin heat, but the heat grew more intense, and the cockpit began to fill with a gray/bluish-colored smoke. The pilot then observed black smoke and flames near his left foot. The pilot made a forced landing to a muddy field where he and his passenger were able to exit the airplane before it was rapidly consumed by fire. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the entire fuselage, tail section, right wing, and the inboard section of the left wing were consumed by fire. The engine compartment also sustained extensive fire damage. The origin of the fire could not be determined due to the extensive damage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked for mechanical issues before flight to prevent fire.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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