Piper PA-34-200T accident near Cleveland, Texas, May 27, 2004
On May 27, 2004 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N2948S, was destroyed in an accident near Cleveland, Texas (Cleveland Municipal 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
The in-flight fire that resulted from an electrical arc in the main battery cable near the main power bus. The cause of the arcing event could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2004 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Texas · Cleveland Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2948S · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970394
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 2,919-hour airline transport rated pilot stated that the airplane was climbing through an altitude of 5,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when he heard a "pop" and started to smell something "funny," but there was no visible smoke. He elected to go to the nearest airport and land, and noticed that his push-to-talk button was no longer operative. The pilot set code 7700 in the transponder and began a descent. During the descent, the cockpit began to fill with an "acrid black" smoke, and he saw flames through an opening in the instrument panel. The pilot attempted to suppress the fire with a hand-held fire extinguisher; however, he was unsuccessful. The pilot elected to execute an emergency landing in a field, collided with a barbed wire fence, and the airplane was then consumed by fire. Examination of the airplane's electrical system revealed that the main battery cable that ran between the main power relay and the main power bus was severed approximately two inches from the main bus. There was beading and localized melting on both ends. Under magnification, the damaged areas had an eroded appearance and there was some evidence of pitting. This type of damage is indicative of an electrical arcing event, which most likely ignited the insulation surrounding the main power wiring assembly and spread to other combustible items in the area. The initiating event for the arc 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,919 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2004; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-360-EB1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental LTSIO-360-EB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVJ Pearland TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PSN Palestine TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from IAH, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.