# NTSB FTW86IA103: Piper PA-31, N68ST, Kingston, OK, June 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1986, 16:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place: Kingston, OK
- Coordinates: 34.000038, -96.719329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-96.7193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21978
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86IA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21978/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86IA103

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,electric relay - arcing (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - overload (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

ACFT RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN-FLIGHT WHILE IN CRUISE AT 9,000' MSL. THE PLT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE C.B. PANEL MOUNTED ON THE LEFT SIDE WALL OF THE COCKPIT AND THAT SEVERAL C.B.'S POPPED AND HE LOST THE MAJORITY OF THE ELEC SYS. HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A NEARBY ARPT. FIRE AND HEAT DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE LEFT SIDE ELEC PANEL, PRIMARILY ON THE UPPER C.B. PANEL. TWO SUSPECT AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS POSSIBLE POINTS OF ORIGIN FOR THE FIRE. ONE WAS A BURNED UP RESISTOR ON THE TRIM COWL FLAP INDICATORS WHICH HAD A DISCONNECTED WIRE TO A DIODE. THE OTHER WAS A BUS BAR LINK THAT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS AND HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH A FUSELAGE BULKHEAD AND SHORTED OUT. A CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION AS TO WHICH CAUSED THE INCIDENT FIRE COULD NOT BE MADE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68ST-2005-01-07), registration cancelled 2005-01-07, S/N 31-729, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-729
- Airframe hours: 8168
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A2C 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Martinaire, Inc.
- Registered owner: Promenade Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1986, 76 hours before
- Departed: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: F31, Lake Texoma Park, runway 18, 3,420 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 200 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADM

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19860610082509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860610082509I), Jun 10, 1986: Piper PA31310, Kingston, OK, Minor damage. Landing gear collapsed on landing after electrical system failure in flight. Indicates gear not in down locks.

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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