# Accident 20150919019049A: Piper PA-28-161, Tarentum, PA, September 19, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2015, 11:30 local time
- Place: Tarentum, PA
- Airport: Pittsburgh Northeast Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.6086° N, 79.8264° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6086&lon=-79.8264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9887K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9887K-2017-02-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,506 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA369) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150919019049A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2015, AT NORTHEAST PITTSBURGH AIRPORT (K9G1) PA, N9887K, A PIPER PA-28-161 BECAME ENGULFED IN FIRE WHILE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURIES. THE FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH IT. THE FIRE CONSUMED APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE FUSELAGE, 50% OF THE RIGHT WING AND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING SPAR TO YIELD AND DEFORM.

THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER HE HAD DEPARTED BUTLER AIRPORT (KBTP), PA ON HIS WAY TO RICHMOND AIRPORT (KRIC), VA , HE HEARD A "RATTLE" AND DECIDED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT K9G1. AFTER LANDING AND TAXIING TO THE RAMP AREA, HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THEN REALIZED THAT HIS NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES WERE TURNED OFF AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRCRAFT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE COWLING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO CRANK THE ENGINE AS HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT, BUT MORE SMOKE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD USED THE ENGINE PRIMER DURING ENGINE START. OF NOTE IS THAT THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK APPROVED 12/16/1976 STATES IN PARAGRAPH 3.7, "ENGINE FIRES DURING START": ENGINE FIRES DURING START ARE USUALLY THE RESULT OF OVERPRIMING".

## 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 ERA15LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA369), Sep 19, 2015: Piper PA 28-161 (N9887K), Pittsburg, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An engine fire, which resulted from the overpriming of a hot engine.

## Other reports on N9887K (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19781016033119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781016033119I), Oct 16, 1978: Piper PA28161 (N9887K), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Rear seat spring contacted battery terminal and caused a fire.

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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