Piper PA-28-236 accident near Concord, California, April 2, 1984
On April 2, 1984 at about 10:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N81300, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1984 · about 10:46 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N81300 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8011047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PLT WAS WAITING FOR A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE, TOWER PERSONNEL NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE ON FIRE. THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE ENG & EXITED THE ACFT. THE FIRE DEVELOPED, BUT WAS MAINLY CONFINED TO THE ENG COMPARTMENT. IT WAS PROMPTLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. AN EXAM REVEALED FUEL STAINS ON THE BELLY SKIN PANELS AFT OF THE FIREWALL & IN LINE WITH THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP, INDICATING A PRIOR FUEL LEAK. ALSO, AN INSPECTION OF THE MUFFLER REVEALED IT WAS BLOWN OPEN WHICH ALLOWED EXHAUST GAGES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE LAST INSPECTION OF THE ACFT WAS APRX 101 HRS PRIOR TO THE SUBJECT 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 14 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,102 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3ASD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Navajo Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 10:46 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from CCR
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.