Memphis International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Memphis, Tennessee 37501
Saturday, March 15, 1997 21:05 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After stopping at the hold short line in preparation for takeoff, the pilot noticed a fire from under the right wing. He called for ARFF personnel and evacuated the airplane. The fire was extinguished. Examination revealed that the fire had been burning from the right wheel assembly, not the wing. Further examination of the wheel showed the brakes seals were worn, and there was no brake fluid in the reservoir. The brake linings and discs were badly scoured. The brake pads had not been replaced in over 400 hours. The master brake cylinder was replaced 8 days before the accident, during an annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of maintenance personnel to properly inspect (and repair) the brake assembly, which allowed a subsequent brake fluid leak and eventual fire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2105
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MEMPHIS
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37501
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MEM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 332
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 322
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 359
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1102N
NTSB Number ATL97LA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40756
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 7 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3969
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE F. HOLLOWELL, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 442
Aircraft Owner City GREENVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38702
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES T. KELLY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 810 FRIARS POINT RD.
Operator City CLARKSDALE
Operator State MS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38014
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MEM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GLH
Destination City GREENVILLE
Destination State MS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36C
Runway Length 8400
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --