Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tampa, Florida 33612
Friday, July 2, 1993 8:07 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE TOWING A BANNER THE PILOT NOTED THE ENGINE FAILED AND A FIRE WAS OBSERVED FROM THE COWLING. HE RELEASED THE BANNER, EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING, AND EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT INJURY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE MUFFLER SYSTEM REVEALED INTERGRANULAR AND FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE INLET PIPE SEAM. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASSES AND FLAME TO IMPINGE OF A FUEL LINE IN THE AREA STARTING A FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper welding/repair by maintenence personnel of the exhaust system, which eventually failed allowing hot exhaust gasses and flame to burn a fuel line and start a fire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 807
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TAMPA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33612
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 751 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1298
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4106M
NTSB Number MIA93LA148
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 3002
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 2 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AERIAL BILLBOARD CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 650 NORMANDY RD.
Aircraft Owner City MADIERA BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33708
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AERIAL BILLBOARD CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 650 NORMANDY RD.
Operator City MADIERA BEACH
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33708
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 737
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --