# NTSB DEN85LA142: Piper PA-28-181, N3561G, Bluff, UT, May 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1985, 18:30 local (May 28, 1985, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Bluff, UT
- Coordinates: 37.140014, -109.520492 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1400&lon=-109.5205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16683/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA142

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - fuel system,carburetor - undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak
  - fuel system,carburetor - fire (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE WHICH BEGAN DURING AN ENGINE START. THE PLT STATED THAT HE USED PORPER HOT ENGINE START PROCEDURES. HE SAID THE THROTTLE WAS NOT PUMPED. THE PLT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO DURING THE SECOND START ATTEMPT. SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ACFT FIRE EXTINGUISHER FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE ACFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE. DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE, THE PRE-ACCIDENT CONDITION OF THE CARBURETOR COULD NOT BE EVALUATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3561G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3561G-1989-02-06), registration cancelled 1989-02-06, S/N 288090185 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Shenk Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 15, 1985, 20 hours before
- Destination: CORTEZ, CO
- Airport: Bluff

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,387 total, 181 in this make and model, 1,335 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19850527026299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850527026299A), May 27, 1985: Piper PA28181, Bluff, UT, Destroyed. During attempted hot start, fuel vented from carburetor ignited. Portable fire extinguisher was empty. Faulty gauge

## Other investigations on N3561G (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA82DA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82DA030), Feb 26, 1982: Piper PA-28-181 (N3561G), Jerome, ID, substantial damage

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.

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