San Antonio Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Antonio, Texas 78216
Tuesady, October 24, 1989 1:38 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, HE ACTIVATED THE STROBE LIGHTS AND TRANSPONDER. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 5 SECONDS LATER, A MINOR EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND FIRE ENGULFED THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF FUEL LEAKS IN THE RIGHT WING. A REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) 74-24-03 HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE AD STATED, 'TO PRECLUDE POSSIBLE IGNITION OF FLAMMABLE FLUIDS AND VAPORS BY ARCING BETWEEN THE STROBE LIGHT AND AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, DEACTIVATE THE STROBE LIGHT SYSTEM.' THE OPERATOR'S APPROVED AIRCRAFT INSPECTION PROGRAM (AAIP) DID NOT ADDRESS FUEL SYSTEMS AND RELATED COMPONENTS. THE FAA SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED DIRECTIVES REVISING THE OPERATOR'S AAIP TO INCLUDE ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF FUEL SYSTEMS AND RELATED COMPONENTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A FUEL TANK LEAK, ARCING FROM THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND FAILURE OF COMPANY/MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/24/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 138
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SAN ANTONIO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78216
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SAN ANTONIO INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 809
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 2347
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 24 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42538
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N950JP
NTSB Number FTW90FA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 58
Aircraft Series Identifier 58
Aircraft Serial Number TH432
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 16 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 3791
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD C. AUCLAIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8435 DIRECTORS ROW
Aircraft Owner City DALLAS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75247
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR EXCHANGE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7338 AVIATION PLACE
Operator City DALLAS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75235
Operator Code AXCA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SAT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 138
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAL
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 7505
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --