Perryton Ochiltree County Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perryton, Texas 79070
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 15:42 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was performing pretakeoff cockpit checks at the end of the runway when an explosion under his seat propelled his head into the ceiling. He saw flames inside the airplane and exited through the cabin door. The unoccupied airplane moved forward and was completely engulfed in flames when it stopped moving, about 400 feet from the place the explosion occurred. Firefighters arrived about 10 minutes later and put out the fire. The airplane was substantially damaged by the fire. An examination of the wreckage did not disclose any preaccident malfunctions or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The reason for the explosion and fire could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The explosion and subsequent fire in the airplane for undetermined reasons because an examination of the burned airplane could not identify any preaccident anomolies.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1542
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Perryton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79070
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 362516N
Event Location Longitude 1004434W
Event Location Airport Perryton Ochiltree County Arpt
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PYX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2918
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1535 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KPYX
Elevation of weather observation facility 2701
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30886
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW Regional Operations Ce
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2013 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record reej
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N46TB
NTSB Number CEN11LA574
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-310
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-67
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RON GOULD JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MCLOUD
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74851-9482
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name RONALD G GOULD JR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MCLOUD
Operator State OK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 74851-9482
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PYX
Departure City Shawnee
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1542
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SNL
Destination City Shawnee
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 17 2012 11:57PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5701
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --