Piper PA-22-150 accident near Summerville, South Carolina, October 26, 1990
On October 26, 1990 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N6142D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summerville, South Carolina (Jetburg Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ERODED EXHAUST STACK WHICH ALLOWED HOT GASES TO IMPINGE UPON THE FIREWALL, AND IGNITE CABIN INSULATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1990 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, South Carolina · Jetburg Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6142D · registry record · serial 22-4786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN UNDER THE CONTROL PANEL. BEFORE THE AIRPLANE COULD BE RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY, FLAMES WERE VISIBLE AT THE PASSENGERS FEET. AFTER LANDING ON THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT EXHAUST GASES HAD IMPINGED ON THE FIREWALL. THE HEAT HAD IGNITED CABIN INSULATION. AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST STACK INSIDE THE CARBURETOR MUFF HAD SEPARATED. EXHAUST GAS HAD BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST THE FIREWALL. THE A/C WS LAST INSPECTED 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1989; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CHS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.