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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 22, 1988 · Piper PA-28-140 · N3621K

Kerrville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 22, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Kerrville, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N3621K
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN88LA210

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS 6 MILES FROM HIS RANCH AND NOTED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. HE TURNED BACK TO THE RANCH FOR A FORCED LANDING. HE OVERFLEW THE LANDING AREA, DECIDED HE WAS TOO HIGH FOR LANDING AND TURNED FOR ANOTHER APPROACH. ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS DETERIORATING, AND THE SECOND APPROACH WAS TOO LOW. THE PLT STALLED THE ACFT JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH A TREE ON THE APPROACH PATH. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 20 YARDS SHORT OF THE LANDING STRIP. THE PLT SAW FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND EXITED THE PLANE. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH DIRT, TO NO AVAIL. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INVESTIGATOR REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD SPLIT.

Full Narrative

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS 6 MILES FROM HIS RANCH AND NOTED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT, ACCOMPANIED BY A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. HE TURNED BACK TO THE RANCH FOR A FORCED LANDING. HE OVERFLEW THE LANDING AREA, DECIDED HE WAS TOO HIGH FOR LANDING AND TURNED FOR ANOTHER APPROACH. ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS DETERIORATING, AND THE SECOND APPROACH WAS TOO LOW. THE PLT STALLED THE ACFT JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH A TREE ON THE APPROACH PATH. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 20 YARDS SHORT OF THE LANDING STRIP. THE PLT SAW FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND EXITED THE PLANE. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH DIRT, TO NO AVAIL. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA INVESTIGATOR REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD SPLIT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:38 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN3621K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120°, gusting 18 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

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Appendix: Source Data