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November 17, 1982 · Piper 601P · N3642A

Tonopah, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 17, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Tonopah, NV
Aircraft
Piper 601P
Tail Number
N3642A
Operator
James E Jenkins
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX83FA035

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 port 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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper 601P
Tail NumberN3642A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames E Jenkins
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-P1A5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 4 kt
Visibility70 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point11 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:50

Appendix: Source Data