# NTSB FTW83LA418: Piper PA-28-140, N43340, Belen, NM, September 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1983, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Belen, NM
- Coordinates: 35.150138, -106.579292 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1501&lon=-106.5793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21043
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA418
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21043/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA418

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) HAD FLOWN THE ACFT FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO BELEN, NM, & HAD SHUT DOWN THE ENG. DURING AN ENG START TO CONTINUE THE FLT ABOUT 20 MIN LATER, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENG & THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N43340 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7525254
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arthur Lauffenburger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1983
- Destination: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Airport: E80, Alexander Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 872 total, 330 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °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 19830903046109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830903046109A), Sep 3, 1983: Piper PA28140, Belen, NM, Destroyed. During engine start engine caught fire. No information on fire fighting facilities on airport.

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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