- Date
- April 12, 1985, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- New London, VA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5738DPiper PA 22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11173
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While exiting the traffic pattern after tkof the plt smelled smoke and observed flames near the left rudder pedal. After failing to put the fire out with his shoes the plt returned to the arpt and subsequently lndd using side window to look out of due to smoke in the cockpit. During lndg the plt was forced to remove his feet fm the rudder pedals due to fire. He attempted to apply the hand brake but veered off the left side of rwy before colliding with a ditch and fence. Exam revealed the bat cable fd separated and showed signs of intense heat at a pt abt 4 inches fm the starter switch. The sep pt was located beneath the plts seat where the cable passed thru a rubber grommet in a metal box housing electrical components.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5738D
- Reported as
- Piper PA 22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-4438
- Airframe hours
- 56,525
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rucker Tibbs
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 19, 1984 · 54 hours before
- Departed
- W90 · New London, VA
- Destination
- W90 · New London, VA
- Airport
- W90 · New London, runway 34, 3,164 × 40 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,200 total · 1,400 in this make and model · 2,220 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F