Piper PA-32-300 accident near Alexandria, Louisiana, January 25, 1998
On January 25, 1998 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N2881D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexandria, Louisiana (Alexandria Esler Regional 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 fire in the normal braking system due to an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1998 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Louisiana · Alexandria Esler Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N2881D · no longer on the register · serial 32-7940176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A braking system fire erupted while the airplane was holding short of runway 14 for takeoff. ATC personnel reported that the airplane taxied 'fast' for approximately 2 miles (due to airport construction) to the runway. The airplane was holding short of the runway when the controller observed smoke coming from the lower part of the aircraft and advised the pilot. The pilot and the passenger exited the aircraft. Subsequently, the fire consumed the cockpit and lower portions of the aircraft. Fire damage precluded a determination of the cause of the braking system 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 653 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 653 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 24, 1997
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AEX
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 9,300 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.