# Accident 19970412005719A: Piper PA32300, Quinhagak, AK, April 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 1997, 15:40 local time
- Place: Quinhagak, AK
- Airport: Quinhagak Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: KUSA
- Location: 59.7394° N, 161.8910° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7394&lon=-161.8910&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9000N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9000N-1999-02-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 7,500 in this make and model, 146 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970412005719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIR TAXI EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE ON TAKEOFF, CRASHED. (FROM .4) THE AIR TAXI PILOT/COMPANY OWNER WAS TAKING OFF FROM HIS BASE OF OPERATIONS AIRPORT IN RURAL ALASKA WITH A NEW HIRE PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS. ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED AND LANDED.  AT THE PILOT'S REQUEST, THE NEW HIRE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE, CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK FOR SECURITY, AND THEN REENTERED THE COCKPIT. THE PILOT MADE ANOTHER TAKEOFF.  SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE COCKPIT, AND FLAME WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING.  AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE JUST OFF THE AIRPORT ON A SMALL ISLAND.  THE OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRPLANE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER AND A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.  POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED A LOOSE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND FIRE DAMAGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE EXPOSED EXHAUST PORTS. NUTS WHICH AFFIX THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE ENGINE WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COWLING. THE AIRPLANE HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ABOUT ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY WHICH NECESSITATED THE REMOVAL OF THE LEFT MANIFOLD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA055), Apr 12, 1997: Piper PA-32 (N9000N), Quinhagak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A disconnected exhaust manifold collector, improper maintenance of the airplane by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot's poor judgement in electing to initiate another flight after observing…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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