Newberry Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newberry, South Carolina 29108
Friday, October 29, 1999 10:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEWBERRY
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29108
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport NEWBERRY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 27J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 550
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1555
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2648P
NTSB Number MIA00LA018
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-2986
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 30 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 1845
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVE M. SIFFORD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7025 FAITH RD.
Aircraft Owner City SALISBURY
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28146
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HQU
Departure City THOMSON
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RUQ
Destination City SALISBURY
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
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 --