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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2023 · about 6:41 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island Airp · 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
- 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 |
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 | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA347.