Piper PA22-160, VH-AMX, 2km East of Northam Aerodrome WA, 5 January 1985

The aircraft was on climb towing a glider when the pilot saw smoke and flames around the left rudder pedal area. The glider was released and the pilot landed the aircraft in a paddock. He abandoned the aircraft before it was destroyed by fire. Because of the severity of damage the cause of the fire could not be determined. It was established that the fire melted fuel lines in the cockpit walls and fuel released then fed the fire which completely gutted the aircraft.