Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tonopah, Nevada 89049
Wednesday, November 17, 1982 14:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AS THE ACFT REACHED 15,500 FT, APRX 30 MI FROM THE DEP ARPT, THE PLT & PAX NOTED FUMES THAT IRRITATED THE EYES & CAUSED DIZZINESS & BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. THE PLT REVERSED COURSE, THEN ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERG LNDG ON A DIRT ROAD. DRG THE LNDG ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK 1 OR MORE METAL POSTS. WHEN THE PLT & PAX EVACUATED THRU THE PLT'S DOOR, FLAMES WERE OBSVD EMINATING FORM THE AFT PORTION OF THE LFT WING & THE LFT MAIN TIRE & WHL WERE BURNING. THE FIRE HAD SELF-EXTINGUISHED PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF EMERG EQUIPMENT. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED SVRL BURNED ELEC WIRES UNDER THE LWR LFT INST PANEL. THE BURNED WIRES WERE CNCTD THE STROBE LGT, SFC DE-ICER & WINDSHIELD HEAT OR PROP DE-ICE SWS, AS WELL AS 3 UNUSED WIRES. THE SOURCE OF THE ELEC FIRE WAS NOT DTRMD. NO DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE BURNED WIRING IN THE COCKPIT AND THE FIRE ON THE LEFT WING & GEAR. A DENT WITH CHORDWISE GASHES WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT WING. FUEL STAINS SURROUNDED THE GASHES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TONOPAH
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89049
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 11
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1250
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID TPH
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
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 Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 70
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 44
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3222
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3642A
NTSB Number LAX83FA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model 601P
Aircraft Series Identifier 601P
Aircraft Serial Number 61P-08288063
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 98
Airframe Hours 258
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID M. KELLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 399
Aircraft Owner City CRESWELL
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97426
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES E. JENKINS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 2303
Operator City STATELINE
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89449
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 TPH
Departure City TONOPAH
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 004
Destination City CARSON CITY
Destination State NV
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --