# NTSB CEN11LA350: Piper PA-22-160, N8957D, Frederick, OK, May 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2011, 15:13 local (20:13 UTC) - Place: Frederick, OK - Coordinates: 34.351112, -98.983612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3511&lon=-98.9836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA350 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA350 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons. ## 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-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 20 minutes after the private pilot and his passenger departed on a local flight, the pilot noticed his feet were getting hot. He thought it might have been the cabin heat, but the heat grew more intense, and the cockpit began to fill with a gray/bluish-colored smoke. The pilot then observed black smoke and flames near his left foot. The pilot made a forced landing to a muddy field where he and his passenger were able to exit the airplane before it was rapidly consumed by fire. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the entire fuselage, tail section, right wing, and the inboard section of the left wing were consumed by fire. The engine compartment also sustained extensive fire damage. The origin of the fire could not be determined due to the extensive damage. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2011, at 1513 central daylight time, N8957D, a Piper PA-22-160 airplane, was substantially damaged from an in-flight fire. The pilot made a forced landing to a field and the airplane was consumed by fire. The private pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, about 20 minutes after departure he was maneuvering at an altitude of 600 feet above ground level (agl) when he began to feel his feet getting hot. He thought it might have been the cabin heat, but the heat was getting more intense and the cockpit began to fill with a gray/bluish colored smoke. The pilot then observed black smoke and flames near his left foot, which he attempted to stomp out. The pilot made a forced landing to a muddy field where he and his passenger were able to exit the airplane before it was rapidly consumed by fire. The airplane was examined by an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA)the day after the accident. He stated that the entire fuselage, tail section, right wing and the inboard section of the left wing were consumed by fire. The engine compartment also sustained extensive fire damage. Several photographs of the engine and airplane were sent to a National Transportation Safety Board Fire and Explosion Specialist. The specialist reviewed the photographs and was unable to determine the origin or cause of the fire due to the extensive damage and limited investigative materials. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8957D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8957D-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 22-6120, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6120 - Airframe hours: 2856 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2011, 5 hours before - Departed: Frederick, OK - Destination: Frederick, OK - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review February 15, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: FDR, 4 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 20110520014949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110520014949A), May 20, 2011: Piper PA-22-160, Frederick, OK, Destroyed. In flight fire started in engine compartment. Pilot landed in a stubble field. He and the one passenger escaped the airplane just before it exploded and burned… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79171. 2.0 MB in all. - Record of Conversation, Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation, FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Fire Factual Report 12-039 (item 3, .PDF, 5 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Fire%20Factual%20Report%2012-039-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.