# NTSB CEN10LA287: Piper PA-22-135, N1821P, Wellington, KS, June 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2010, 22:00 local (Jun 1, 2010, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Wellington, KS - Coordinates: 37.324443, -97.387222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3244&lon=-97.3872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76189/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76189 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA287 ## Probable cause A fire of undetermined cause that originated in the airplane's cabin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had made two touch-and-go landings. As he applied power to take off, the airplane "would not accelerate." He stopped the airplane on the runway and the engine quit. He used the primer and attempted to restart the engine. His passenger then noticed a fire under the instrument panel. Both occupants evacuated the airplane. Fire inspectors examined the airplane but were unable to determine either the origin or cause of the fire, but it was noted that the most intense portion of the fire was in the cabin area. The pilot held a student pilot certificate that expired in 2004. He did not hold a valid Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and refused to complete the NTSB Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2010, approximately 2200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135, N1821P, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it caught fire during engine start at Wellington Municipal Airport (EGT), Wellington, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was uninjured. The local flight originated at Cook Airfield, Inc., (K50), Derby, Kansas, approximately 2115. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that they had flown over from Derby and had made two touch-and-go landings at Wellington. As he applied power to take off, the airplane "would not accelerate." He stopped the airplane on the runway and the engine quit. He used the primer and attempted to restart the engine. His passenger then noticed a fire under the instrument panel. Both occupants evacuated the airplane. The pilot refused to complete NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot held a student pilot certificate that expired in 2004. He did not hold a valid FAA medical certificate. The pilot said he had approximately 170 hours total time, most of which were in the Piper PA-22-135. Fire inspectors from the City of Wellington, Kansas, examined the airplane but were unable to determine either the origin or cause of the fire, but it was noted that the most intense portion of the fire was in the cabin area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1821P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1821P-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 22-2601, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2601 - Airframe hours: 2241 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph E. Gibfried - Registered owner: Joseph E. Gibfried - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2009, 73 hours before - Departed: K50, Derby, KS - Destination: K50, Derby, KS - Airport: EGT, Wellington Municipal, runway 35, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 170 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: ICT, 25 nm away ## 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 20100531035169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100531035169A), May 31, 2010: Piper PA-22-135, Wellington, KS, Destroyed. On may 31st, 2010, at approximately 2200 local time, a non-certificated pilot was involved in an aircraft accident after incorrectly restarting the aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76189. 3.8 MB in all. - Weather Reports and Records (item 1, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. N1821P after removal from runway. (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20N1821P%20after%20removal%20from%20runway.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. The cockpit area. (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20The%20cockpit%20area.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. The engine compartment. (item 4, .PDF, 906 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20The%20engine%20compartment.-Master.PDF 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.