What happened
Shortly after takeoff during the climb phase, a fire broke out in the right engine compartment of the Piper aircraft. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to return to the departure airport, approximately 7 miles away. During the descent, witnesses reported seeing smoke and flames trailing from the right engine, accompanied by sounds of explosions. Although the pilot successfully feathered the propeller on the right engine, the aircraft could not maintain its altitude. The flight lasted 12 minutes and ended roughly 1.25 miles from the runway, when the plane struck trees and power lines before landing upside down near a private residence. The resulting fuel-fed fire destroyed the airframe and damaged nearby homes.
Prior to the accident, the aircraft had undergone significant maintenance and modifications for an upcoming overseas ferry flight to Korea. This included engine overhauls, the installation of new nacelle fuel tanks, and the addition of four custom-made ferry tanks within the fuselage. The aircraft was being operated by a broker and was being flown by a ferry pilot tasked with moving the plane from Nevada to California.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the fire originated in the right engine compartment, specifically in the area containing the engine-driven fuel pump and its associated supply lines. While the exact initiating event could not be determined due to fire damage, the damage was consistent with a fuel leak near the pump or a loose fuel line nut.
Although the pilot feathered the propeller, the investigation found that several critical emergency procedures outlined in the Pilot Operator's Handbook were not followed. The right engine's firewall fuel shutoff valve remained in the 'on' position, the cowl flaps were left open, the magneto switches were active, and the fuel selector and emergency fuel pump switches were still engaged. These factors, combined with the aircraft's speed dropping below the minimum required for single-engine flight, contributed to the inability to maintain altitude and the subsequent impact.