Myrtle Beach Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
Monday, January 31, 2000 16:27 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after landing, all four fuel tanks were filled. He performed a preflight to the airplane and started both engines with no discrepancies noted. While taxiing to takeoff he performed a flight control check of the ailerons and while looking at the left aileron, he noted discoloration of the paint on the upper wing surface outboard of the engine nacelle. He requested fire rescue assistance from the ground controller and taxied to an open area of the ramp, where he secured the airplane. After exiting the airplane he noted fire at the outboard fuel tank vent that was leaking fuel. He discharged a hand held fire extinguisher he obtained from the airplane and nearly extinguished the fire. The airport fire rescue then responded and extinguished the fire using only water. According to the airport fire department incident report, vented fuel ignited by exhaust manifold was cited as the 'preliminary cause' of the fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The on-ground fire caused by fuel flowing out the fuel vent and near the exhaust of the left engine resulting in the on-ground fire and substantial damage to the airplane. A finding in the investigation was that all four fuel tanks had been filled before the pilot started the engines for the flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/31/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1627
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MYRTLE BEACH
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29577
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MYRTLE BEACH INT'L
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MYR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 25
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 25
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 354
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 1 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1038
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14VU
NTSB Number MIA00LA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model D50E
Aircraft Series Identifier D50E
Aircraft Serial Number DH-326
Certified Max Gross Weight 7600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 3 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 4787
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH G. FABICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address HZR BOX 25A
Aircraft Owner City KOELTZTON
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65048
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11200 SILVER SPRING RD.
Operator City MILWAUKEE
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53225
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MYR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1627
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUA
Destination City STUART
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --