N31858

On Thursday, September 2, 1993, at 1000 eastern daylight time, N31858, a Piper PA-34-200T, owned by W M T Inc. of Williamson, West Virginia, and piloted by James Klepper of Abingdon, Virginia, was destroyed by fire at Williamson Mingo County Airport, Williamson, West Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Abingdon, Virginia.

According to the pilot, just after takeoff, "I began smelling a hot smell. Within 30 seconds to 1 minute I started to see smoke in the cockpit. After going through and completing the emergency check list and turning off all electrical including master switch, I elected to return for a landing...I was able to taxi the aircraft off of the runway onto the taxiway...after exiting the aircraft I called the operator for assistance." The fire had spread throughout the airplane destroying it. An examination of the airplane after the accident did not reveal the source of the fire.