- Date
- December 29, 1985, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Junction, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N27842Piper PA-31-325
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851229063869A
- Case key
- 21990
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
During initial climb after takeoff the pilot noticed oil streaming out from the oil filler access door on the right engine cowling. He elected to continue climbing and make a tear drop turn back to the airport and land in the opposite direction from which he had departed. He announced his intentions on UNICOM radio. Another pilot responded that he was presently on the runway but would clear it as soon as posible. The subject pilot then decided to make a go around. During this time the right front seat passenger stated he observed flames in the right engine cowl. The piloit shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. He added full power to the left engine and retracted the landing gear and flaps. He was unable to maintain altitude and decided to make a forced landing straight ahead in an open field. He had to pull up once to avoid a power line and maneuver to avoid an antenna. He made a successful forced landing and all occupants exited. The flames quickly spread and the aircraft was consumed by ground fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N27842
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-325
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31-7912055
- Airframe hours
- 1,490
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- W. D. Norton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 15, 1985
- Departed
- JCT · Junction, TX
- Destination
- PHX · Phoenix, AZ
- Airport
- JCT · Kimble Co.
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
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 420 in this make and model · 3,005 as pilot in command · 142 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °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.