Piper PA-22-150 N2648P

Summary

On 29 October 1999 at about 14:50 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N2648P was involved in an accident near Newberry, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 October 1999 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Newberry, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Newberry (27J)

Coordinates

34.2704, -81.6104

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N2648P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Thomson → Salisbury

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA018

1 person was seriously injured.

a fire in the cockpit caused by the exhaust muffler, which resulted in a forced landing in a field, and subsequent impact with a berm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After 30 minutes in flight the pilot reported that smoke started entering from right side defrost duct. He elected to land at the nearest airport,14 nautical miles north of his location. About 3 miles from the airport fire started inside the cockpit near the right side rudder pedals. He decreased power and started descending towards a field. The last thing he remembered was crossing power lines. A detailed inspection of the muffler revealed, the muffler had two areas of burn-through damage. The aircraft fire wall had an area about 14 inches in diameter with indications of severe overheating. It was concluded that a faulty exhaust muffler caused the aircraft's firewall to overheat and smolder the aircraft's firewall insulation. The maintence records did not indicate that the exhaust muffler had ever been replaced.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.