Piper PA 28-181 incident near South Naknek, Alaska, May 14, 2014
On May 14, 2014 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 28-181, registered N30541, was involved in an incident during taxi (to runway) near South Naknek, Alaska (South Naknek Nr 2 airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A fire in the airplane’s engine compartment that initiated for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2014 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Naknek, Alaska · South Naknek Nr 2 · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181 181, built 1978 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N30541 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990095
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taxiing the airplane for departure when he and his passengers smelled smoke in the cabin. He shut the engine down, and he and the passengers then evacuated the airplane. After escorting the passengers to a safe location, he saw smoke coming from the engine cowling area and attempted to put out any fire with a fire extinguisher; however, his attempt to put out the fire was unsuccessful, and the fire continued to burn a majority of the fuselage. Due to extensive fire damage, the initiation source of the fire could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during standing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: King Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: WSN South Naknek AK
- Destination: Naknek AK
- Runway 12, 3,314 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from PAKN, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.