Piper PA-22-150 accident near Newberry, South Carolina, October 29, 1999
On October 29, 1999 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N2648P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newberry, South Carolina (Newberry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fire in the cockpit caused by the exhaust muffler, which resulted in a forced landing in a field, and subsequent impact with a berm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1999 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Newberry, South Carolina · Newberry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2648P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After 30 minutes in flight the pilot reported that smoke started entering from right side defrost duct. He elected to land at the nearest airport,14 nautical miles north of his location. About 3 miles from the airport fire started inside the cockpit near the right side rudder pedals. He decreased power and started descending towards a field. The last thing he remembered was crossing power lines. A detailed inspection of the muffler revealed, the muffler had two areas of burn-through damage. The aircraft fire wall had an area about 14 inches in diameter with indications of severe overheating. It was concluded that a faulty exhaust muffler caused the aircraft's firewall to overheat and smolder the aircraft's firewall insulation. The maintence records did not indicate that the exhaust muffler had ever been replaced.
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: 165 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1999; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQU Thomson GA at 2:50 pm
- Destination: RUQ Salisbury NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from CAE, 40 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.