# NTSB SEA85FA103: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N2173B, Seattle, WA, May 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1985, 17:59 local (May 4, 1985, 00:59 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.539787, -122.309951 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5398&lon=-122.3100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40040
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40040/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA103

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - selected, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PLT REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE RETURN FOR LANDING STATING HE, 'SMELLED SMOKE/SOMETHING HOT'. DOWNWIND FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS FLOWN AT 200 FT AGL, A SLOW AIRSPEED AND CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY WITH A CROSSWIND BLOWING THE ACFT TOWARD THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE APCH TURN STEEPEN TO AN APRX 60 DEG ANGLE OF BANK WITH MINOR PITCH AND YAW EXCURSIONS (LOCAL PLTS REPORT THAT WIND FROM THE SOUTHWEST PRODUCES TURBULENCE AND WINDSHEAR DUE TO SURROUNDING STRUCTURES) BEFORE THE NOSE PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY AND THE ACFT FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING, ROLLING TO A NEAR-VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND IMPACTING THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FIRE. FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE UP POSITION. NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF PRE-IMPACT SOURCE OF SMOKE/HEAT AS REPORTED BY THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2173B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7987035
- Airframe hours: 1295
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold D. Pugh
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 1984, 87 hours before
- Destination: MWI, MOSES LAKE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BFI, Boeing Field King County, runway 13R, 10,001 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,807 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,669 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFI, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850503016909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850503016909A), May 3, 1985: Piper PA32RT300T, Seattle, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot was returning with smoke smell in cockpit. Overgross with aft CG aircraft stalled and impacted runway.

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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