Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Provo, Utah, February 3, 1990
On February 3, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N21492, was substantially damaged in an accident near Provo, Utah (Provo airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND FATIGUE FAILURE AND LEAKAGE OF THE LEFT INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS PROVIDED BY THE (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Provo, Utah · Provo
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N21492 · registry record · serial 32R-7887215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT, THE PLT NOTED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE & DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. WHILE ON A BASE LEG TO LAND, HEAVY SMOKE & FUMES FILLED THE CABIN & REQUIRED THE PLT TO LOOK OUT THE SIDE VENT WINDOW TO COMPLETE THE LANDING. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED ON THE RUNWAY, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS EXTINGUISHED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE LEFT INTERMEDIATE EXHAUST PIPE (LYCOMING PART NO: LW-15811) HAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED AT THE FLANGE. THE ENGINE CROSSOVER EXHAUST ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AD 89-12-04 & TEXTRON LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN #484, WHICH WERE INTENDED TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF FAILURE/SEPARATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,682 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,456 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,145 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 8, 1989; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 3:05 pm
- Destination: CNY Moab UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 7,096 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.