Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
Sunday, October 29, 1989 2:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE COPILOT'S SEAT STATED THAT SHE SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE RIGHT WING AND ENGINE AREA. SHE STATED THAT SHE COULD SEE A BRIGHT 'GLOW' BENEATH THE SKIN OF THE WING. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A FREEWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LIGHT POLE ON THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN. HEAVY FIRE DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN THE AFT PORTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE NACELLE & RIGHT FLAP ASSEMBLY. IN ADDITION, HEAVY FIRE AND SOOT WERE EVIDENT IN THE INTERIOR OF THE RIGHT WING ASSEMBLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LEAK IN THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FUEL LEAK WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 200
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LITTLE ROCK
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72202
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
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 216 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID LIT
Elevation of weather observation facility 4
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 258
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 51
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1660
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40565
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6382X
NTSB Number MKC90FA020
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 In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 1345
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 --
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SPRINGDALE AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 811
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGDALE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72765
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
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 Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LIT
Departure City LITTLE ROCK
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 157
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ASG
Destination City SPRINGDALE
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --