Piper PA-32-260 accident near Burlington, Vermont, March 24, 2021
On March 24, 2021 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA-32-260, registered N26DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Burlington, Vermont (Burlington Intl 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
A fire that originated in the right main landing gear brake assembly for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2021 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Vermont · Burlington Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 NO SERIES, built 1965 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N26DC · registry record · serial 32-64
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after a series of full stop landings he was holding short of a runway when he smelled a burning odor, and air traffic control tower personnel observed a fire on the right main landing gear assembly. The pilot and passengers evacuated the airplane, and the fire was subsequently extinguished by airport fire rescue personnel. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the right wing. Disassembly and examination of the right brake and wheel revealed extensive fire damage to the assembly, which precluded the ability to determine the reason for 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 taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 20 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: VSF Springfield VT
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:00 pm from BTV
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 August 24, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 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.