Piper PA-28-160 accident near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, February 5, 2023
On February 5, 2023 at about 6:55 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA-28-160, registered N9770J, was destroyed in an accident during prior to flight near Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Chippewa Valley Regional Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
The engine fire that began for undetermined reasons following numerous engine start attempts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2023 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin · Chippewa Valley Regional Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160, built 1967 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9770J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3698
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to start the engine six times before the battery died. He recharged the battery and attempted six more engine starts before ceasing further attempts. He said that during each engine start attempt, he applied the engine primer three times and pumped the throttle control two times. The throttle control was positioned about ¼ inch forward during each start attempt. At times during the start attempts, he placed the mixture control into idle cutoff and ran the engine starter. The pilot and one passenger exited the airplane while one passenger remained inside. The passenger who exited the airplane noticed a small flame inside the engine cowling. The pilot told the passenger inside the airplane to move the mixture control to idle cutoff. The passenger then exited the airplane. The fuel selector was not turned to the off position. A large fire the erupted from the engine compartment, which destroyed the airplane. Fire damage precluded determination of the fuel and ignition sources of the fire.
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 prior to flight defining event
- Unknown or undetermined during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Last flight review: October 19, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,765.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 3,765 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EAU Eau Claire WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from EAU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.