Piper PA28 accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, July 27, 2023
On July 27, 2023 at about 6:41 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA28, registered N15417, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Downtown Island Airp airport). It was an instructional 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
An in-flight fire that resulted from an inadequate 100-hr inspection, which failed to detect and correct improper electrical cable routing in the engine compartment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2023 · about 6:41 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island Airp · cases near this airport · 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 1972 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N15417 · registry record · serial 28-7305073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
When the flight instructor initiated a takeoff roll, the engine rpm initially increased to 2,200, then decreased to 800, followed by flames emanating from the engine cowling. The flight instructor rejected the takeoff, secured the engine, and exited the airplane on the runway; however, the fire continued in the engine compartment until airport personnel were able to extinguish it. Postaccident examination of the engine compartment revealed that about a 25 to 30-in length of starter motor electrical lead was not clamped and had drooped down on top of the fuel primer line. Metal beads on top of the fuel primer line were consistent with chaffing and welding due to contact from the electrical lead. It is likely that arcing from the lead ignited fuel in the fuel primer line. The airplane had been operated for 73 hours during a 1-month period following its most recent 100-hr inspection. The electrical lead drooping down and resting on top of the fuel primer line was contrary to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aircraft manufacturer maintenance instructions regarding proper routing and should have been identified and corrected during the most recent 100-hr inspection.
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 takeoff defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the electrical power
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 912 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 201 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 848 as pilot in command; 741 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 21, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,449 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 2023; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 8,449 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,499 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from DKX
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDKX 271835Z AUTO 27004KT 10SM CLR 32/21 A3011 RMK A01=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 2 – Starter Motor Electrical Lead And Fuel Primer Line
Photograph 3 – TachometerThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 20, 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Instructions (Ac 43.13-1B) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N15417 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,623 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A 65 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Knoxville Downtown Island Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,535 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA347.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.