- Date
- March 15, 1982, 15:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place
- Gunnison, CO
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N12JPPiper PA-31P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 15, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820315005779A
- Case key
- 70927
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
While enroute to addison, TX, the pilot noticed a fluctuation in the engine exhaust gas temperature gauge, followed by the tachometer dropping to zero. The pilot also observed smoke emanating from the engine nacelle and proceeded to secure the engine and feather the propeller and accomplish a successfull emergency landing. Further examination disclosed two blow-out holes in the lower area of the transition tube assembly that allowed hot engine exhaust to escape into the engine compartment. The overboard exhaust pipe clamps, cowl flap motor and actuating rod were damaged by fire and fell from the aircraft while in flight.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12JP
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31P68
- Airframe hours
- 2,154
- Engine
- Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A, 425 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gerald Langford/Cindell Noel R
- Registered owner
- Gerald Langford/Cindell Noel R
- Departed
- C · Gunnison, CO
- Destination
- C · Addison, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- Gunnison County, runway 24, 7,198 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 365 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 95 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.