Altus Afb Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Altus, Oklahoma 73521
Wednesday, February 6, 1985 9:43 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN ENG START, PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE L ENG BACKFIRED 2 OR 3 TIMES. A WITNESS DESCRIBED THE 1ST BACKFIRED AS 'THE LOUDEST I HAVE EVER HEARD.' WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF, TWO PERSONS LIVING NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY NOTED THAT THE ACFT (BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME) SOUNDED DIFFERENT & HAD A 'CLUTTERING SOUND. 'WHILE CLIMBING, THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REPORTED A FIRE IN THE L ENG. HE WAS VECTORED TOWARD ALTUS AFB WHILE DSCNDG IN IFR CONDITIONS. HE DSCNDD INTO VFR CONDITIONS & SAW THE ARPT ABOUT 3 MI AWAY. A WITNESS SAW SMOKE & FIRE TRAILING FROM THE VICINITY OF THE L ENG. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT'S NOSE CAME UP, THE PLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ENG EXHAUST MAINIFOLD HEADER ASSY HAD FAILED & ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ESCAPE IN THE ENG NACELLE IN THE VICINITY OF FUEL & OIL LINES. CORROSION HAD PROGRESSED THRU THE HEADER ASSY. AD 75-23-08 REQD GEN INSPN, BUT CONTAINED NOTE 'DO NOT REMOVE CLAMPS.' NO RECORD OF REPLACEMENT IN 6100 HRS

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 943
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ALTUS
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73521
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ALTUS AFB
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LTS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 15
Degrees magnetic from airport 45
Airport Elevation 1426
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 949 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID LTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1426
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1100
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
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 Light
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 666
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28487
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5780M
NTSB Number FTW85FA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 402B-0348
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 10 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 6100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALTUS AIRLINE, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 75
Aircraft Owner City ALTUS
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73521
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALTUS AIRLINE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 ASFA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AXS
Departure City ALTUS
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 934
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OKC
Destination City OKLAHOMA CITY
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --