- Date
- August 23, 1985, 20:35 local (Aug 24, 1985, 01:35 UTC)
- Place
- Big Spring, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7401RPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850823040319A
- Case key
- 21578
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
The acft cockpit/cabin filled with smoke after takeoff. The plt & passg smelled an odor of electrical wiring burning and saw fire at the firewall near the rudder pedals. The acft was turned 180 degrees and landed on rwy 35. The 2 occupants immediately egressed. Investigation showed that the eng left exhaust stack, pn 63726-O2, which should be inserted into the muffler assem, pn 66704-00 and secured with clamp assem, pn 65442-03 was displaced away from the end of the muffler allowing hot gases to be directed onto the firewall in the area of the starter solenoid and brake reservoir. The securing clamp assem was present on the muffler with the nut installed and clamp flush with the outside diameter of the muffler extension. The locater pin was extending thru the muffler extension. The exhaust stack had the locator hold and inspection did not show that the pin was worn or sheared to allow disengagement. Fire damaged the acft from the firewall to the baggage/rear aera. Fluid from the melted brake reservoir appeared to add to the fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7401R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25002
- Airframe hours
- 4,017
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- Both
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Jack H. Romans
- Registered owner
- C. Ray Owsley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 16, 1985 · 25 hours before
- Destination
- E02 · Odessa, TX
- Airport
- 21XS · Big Spring, runway 35, 8,800 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,380 total · 49 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.