Kimble Co. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Junction, Texas 76849
Sunday, December 29, 1985 16:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT NOTICED OIL STREAMING OUT FROM THE OIL FILLER ACCESS DOOR ON THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE CLIMBING AND MAKE A TEAR DROP TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM WHICH HE HAD DEPARTED.HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS ON UNICOM RADIO.ANOTHER PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS PRESENTLY ON THE RUNWAY BUT WOULD CLEAR IT AS SOON AS POSIBLE. THE SUBJECT PILOT THEN DECIDED TO MAKE A GO AROUND. DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER STATED HE OBSERVED FLAMES IN THE RIGHT ENGINE COWL.THE PILOIT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER.HE ADDED FULL POWER TO THE LEFT ENGINE AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS.HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN FIELD.HE HAD TO PULL UP ONCE TO AVOID A POWER LINE AND MANEUVER TO AVOID AN ANTENNA.HE MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING AND ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED.THE FLAMES QUICKLY SPREAD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY GROUND FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/29/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City JUNCTION
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76849
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KIMBLE CO.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JCT
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 290
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) --
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 1
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1924
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 29 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29306
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27842
NTSB Number FTW86LA029
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-325
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-325
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7912055
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1490
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W. D. NORTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 717
Aircraft Owner City TYLER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75710
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code JCT
Departure City JUNCTION
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHX
Destination City PHOENIX
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --