- Date
- August 30, 1983, 11:37 local (15:37 UTC)
- Place
- Marathon, FL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N30533Piper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830830045069A
- Case key
- 30802
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 landing gear collapsed during a forced landing due to a cabin fire. The landing occurred just short of the rwy at Marathon arpt, FL. The plt had departed this arpt about 30 minutes earlier on the 2nd leg of a student x-country flt. The departure was at about 1105 EDT. At 1130 witnesses saw the acft approaching the arpt with flames and smoke visible inside and outside of the acft. After the accident the plt said that about 10 minutes after takeoff he smelled something and turned around to see the cabin on fire. A review of the acft log shows that the alternator was replaced ON8/2/83. A post accident test of the alternator showed its performance within limits. Fuel lines in the cabin and the fuel selector along with the remaining d.c. electrical harnesses were sent to the NTSB lab for examination. The lab found evidence that an aluminum cable was internally heated most likely from excessive electrical current. Due to the fire other cockpit evidence was destroyed. Based upon statements the fire originated in the rear of the acft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30533
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7916087
- Engine
- Avco Lycoming O-320-D3, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Kitty Hawk Flight School
- Registered owner
- Walter Reviere Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 30, 1983
- Destination
- FLL · Fl. Lauderdale, FL
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- MTH · Marathon, runway 25, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 38 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EYW, 31 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.