Piper PA-28-161 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, November 3, 1995
On November 3, 1995 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N30119, was destroyed in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City airport). It was an instructional 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
a carburetor fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1995 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N30119 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916078
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that after three unsuccessful attempts to start the engine, he noticed 'steam' or 'smoke' coming from the carbureted engine compartment. He then initiated a fourth engine start cranking the engine for about 15 seconds before stopping and exiting the airplane to inspect the engine. The instructor noticed a small flame in the engine compartment and ordered the student to exit the airplane. A fire extinguisher was not available and the airplane was quickly consumed by the fire. No ignition source could be determined for the 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 739 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 223 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 674 as pilot in command; 397 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Great Western Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SLC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from SLC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.