On November 16, 1979, a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) (registration N8099J) operated by Jay B. Claster was involved in an aviation accident near Teterboro, United States of America during takeoff. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine fire was caused by the failure of an exhaust pipe assembly due to a fatigue fracture at the flange weld. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-engine aircraft crashed in Carlstadt during its initial climb following an engine fire caused by an exhaust system failure.
What happened
During the departure phase from Teterboro Airport, an aircraft was climbing out from runway 24 when a critical mechanical failure occurred. An engine fire erupted after a component of the exhaust pipe assembly detached from the engine. Following this separation, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane descended and impacted the ground in Carlhest, located less than 1.2 miles from the end of the runway, resulting in a crash involving intense flames. The impact resulted in three fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the fire or explosion originated within the engine during the climb. The primary cause was determined to be the failure of the exhaust pipe assembly, specifically part number 32006-511, which separated at the flange weld. This separation was attributed to a fatigue fracture within the exhaust stacks. Additionally, reports indicated that the pilot had attempted to operate the aircraft despite known equipment deficiencies.
Probable cause
The engine fire was caused by the failure of an exhaust pipe assembly due to a fatigue fracture at the flange weld.