Piper PA-28-235 accident near Sebring, Florida, March 12, 1994
On March 12, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8938W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sebring, Florida (Sebring 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 FAILURE OF THE MUFFLER IN FLIGHT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, ALLOWING HOT EXHAUST GASSES TO IMPINGE ON THE CARBURETOR IGNITING THE FUEL AND THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sebring, Florida · Sebring Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8938W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES NEAR THE ENGINE AREA, ALONG WITH A LOSS OF POWER. HE TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AREA REVEALED THAT THE MUFFLER HAD BURST, AND ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASSES TO IMPINGE ON THE CARBURETOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 628 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.