Piper PA22 accident near Georgetown, Delaware, January 28, 2017
On January 28, 2017 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1960 Piper PA22, registered N3659Z, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Georgetown, Delaware (Delaware Coastal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight fire for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive thermal damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2017 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Delaware · Delaware Coastal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 150, built 1960 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N3659Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-7556
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the private pilot, shortly after takeoff, as the airplane reached 1,400 ft, he noticed "thick" smoke coming from behind the instrument panel and then the glareshield, followed by flames near his feet and legs. The pilot was able to return to the departure airport and land successfully. During the subsequent landing roll, the pilot reduced the throttle and mixture to shut down the engine and pulled the brake handle; however, the airplane did not slow, and he egressed the airplane while it was in motion. The airplane came to rest in a grass area right of the runway and was mostly consumed by fire. The pilot's description of the onset and growth of the fire was consistent with a fast-growing fire such as a fire fed by liquid fuel. Examination of the wreckage revealed that several sections of the fuel system were consumed or damaged by fire. The main fuel line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor was found loose on the carburetor side. The lower left portion of the engine cowling exhibited more thermal damage than the right side, which is consistent with the location of the loose fuel line supplying the carburetor; however, due to the extent of the thermal damage, the origination point of the in-flight 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 initial climb defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during emergency descent
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,082 hours in all; 870 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,037 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,742.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2017; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 3,742 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GED Georgetown DE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MD50 Lusby MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,109 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; ovct at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from SBY, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2018. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Materials Lab Report 17-058 Fire Investigation | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.