Piper PA28 accident near Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, January 23, 2023
On January 23, 2023 at about 11:44 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA28, registered N747PK, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's flooding the engine with fuel during a cold engine start, which resulted in an engine fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2023 · about 11:44 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 180, built 1968 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N747PK · no longer on the register · serial 28-4647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and his passenger prepared for a night flight in the flying club’s airplane to maintain the pilot’s currency. He tried to start the engine three times, priming the engine a total of 11 times, and “pumping” the throttle during one attempt, but it did not start. Concerned that he may have flooded the engine, he waited 5 minutes before attempting another start with full throttle and mixture at idle/cutoff. After this attempt, the passenger noted smoke and he realized that the engine was on fire. He told his passenger to egress and attempted to extinguish the fire with the onboard fire extinguisher; however, the fire substantially damaged the airplane’s the fuselage, engine mounts, and firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the airplane suggested priming 1 to 3 times before engine start.
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 standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 224 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 159 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,174.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2022; 71.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Raleigh Flying Club LLC
The flight
- Destination: HNZ Oxford NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from RDU, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRDU 232351Z 31008KT 270V340 10SM FEW060 FEW070 07/M04 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP201 T00721044 10111 20072 52041=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 2023. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | POH Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Flying Club Checklist | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 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.