# NTSB BFO93LA151: Piper PA-34-200T, N31858, Williamson, WV, September 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1993, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Williamson, WV
- Coordinates: 37.669097, -82.270057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6691&lon=-82.2701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA151

## Probable cause

A FIRE IN THE COCKPIT AREA FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Fire, standing

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, JUST AFTER TAKEOFF HE NOTED AN ODOR. HE STATED THAT WITHIN 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE, HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WHICH INCLUDED TURNING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER.  HE ELECTED TO RETURN FOR A LANDING.  AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE AIRPLANE ONTO THE TAXIWAY.  HE LEFT THE AIRPLANE TO SEEK ASSISTANCE IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE.  ON HIS RETURN TO THE AIRPLANE, HE NOTED THE FIRE HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CABIN AND TO THE EMPENNAGE AREA.  THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT THE CABIN AREA AND NOSE COMPARTMENT WERE DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT DID NOT REVEAL THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE.

## Factual narrative

On Thursday, September 2, 1993, at 1000 eastern daylight time, N31858, a Piper PA-34-200T, owned by W M T Inc. of Williamson, West Virginia, and piloted by James Klepper of Abingdon, Virginia, was destroyed by fire at Williamson Mingo County Airport, Williamson, West Virginia.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Abingdon, Virginia.

According to the pilot, just after takeoff, "I began smelling a hot smell.  Within 30 seconds to 1 minute I started to see smoke in the cockpit.  After going through and completing the emergency check list and turning off all electrical including master switch, I elected to return for a landing...I was able to taxi the aircraft off of the runway onto the taxiway...after exiting the aircraft I called the operator for assistance."  The fire had spread throughout the airplane destroying it.  An examination of the airplane after the accident did not reveal the source of the fire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31858](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31858-2012-09-27), registration cancelled 2012-09-27, S/N 34-7870270, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870270
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: W. M. T. Inc.
- Registered owner: W M T Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: VJI, ABINGDON, VA
- Airport: 4I0, Williamson Mingo Cty, runway 24, 3,515 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,097 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,091 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930902041869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930902041869A), Sep 2, 1993: Piper PA34200T, Williamson, WV, Destroyed. Smoke in cockpit on takeoff. Shut off electrics. Returned. Aircraft destroyed by fire on ground. Source unknown.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.