Piper PA-23-250 N40259

Summary

On 12 December 2003 at about 02:15 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N40259, operated by Northeast Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Buffalo, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 December 2003 at 02:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Buffalo Niagra International (BUF)

Coordinates

42.9403, -78.7319

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N40259

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Northeast Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morristown → Buffalo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC04LA047

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper procedure with regard to the cabin heater, which resulted in the over temperature of the heater and subsequent fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After landing, as the pilot pulled into the ramp area, he noticed an orange glow at his feet, and notified airport personnel over the radio that he had a fire in the airplane. The pilot brought the airplane to a stop, and airport crash fire rescue extinguished the fire. Examination of the airplane revealed the fire burnt a hole through the fuselage skin in the area of the Janitrol heater, just aft of the left wing root. The entire area forward of the Janitrol heater, including the wiring and plumbing of the heater, as well as the cockpit and cabin was consumed by fire. The pilot reported that his normal procedure for using the Janitrol heater was to turn it off at the same time he extended the landing gear while on approach. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), Description and Operations section stated, "The three positions of the cabin heat control switch are 'HEAT,' 'FAN,' and 'OFF'...It is advisable to place the switch in the fan position for several minutes after the heater has been operating to allow the unit to cool down before it is turned off." The Normal Procedures section of the POH required that the switch be turned to the "FAN" position while completing the Before and After Landing checklists. The Shutdown checklist called for the switch to be switched to the "OFF" position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.