Piper PA-31-310 accident near Perryton, Texas, August 17, 2011
On August 17, 2011 at about 8:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-310, registered N46TB, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Perryton, Texas (Perryton Ochiltree County Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The explosion and subsequent fire in the airplane for undetermined reasons because an examination of the burned airplane could not identify any preaccident anomolies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2011 · about 8:42 pm local time
- Place
- Perryton, Texas · Perryton Ochiltree County Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-310 · all PA-31-310s on the register
- Registration
- N46TB · registry record · serial 31-67
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Explosion (non-impact) during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during standing (engine(s) operating)
- Evacuation during standing (engine(s) operating)
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PYX Shawnee TX at 8:42 pm
- Destination: SNL Shawnee OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,701 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KPYX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N46TB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11LA574.