Fresno Air Terminal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93706
Friday, June 18, 1982 18:56 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF FROM RWY 29R, THE ACFT BEGAN TO PITCH UP. AS THE PITCH-UP PROGRESSED, THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT AILERON & FULL RIGHT RUDDER. THE ACFT RESPONDED BY ROLLING TO THE RIGHT WITH THE NOSE FALLING THRU. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT BEFORE THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND. IT COLLIDED WITH A 6 FT WIRE FENCE WHICH TORE OFF THE ENGINES & CAUSED THE ACFT TO ROTATE CLOCKWISE ON THE GROUND. CARGO IN THE ACFT WAS THROWN THRU THE SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE PLT EXITED THE ACFT WITHOUT INJURY. THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES & THE FUSELAGE WAS BADLY BURNED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 2989 LBS OF FREIGHT PLUS A 359 LB MOTORCYCLE WERE BEING CARRIED BETWEEN BULKHEADS 5 & 11. THE BULKHEAD LOADS WERE LIMITED TO 450 LBS (5-8) & 300 LBS (8-10). THE MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 10,310 LBS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT NONE OF THE FREIGHT WAS TIED DOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1856
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FRESNO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93706
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FRESNO AIR TERMINAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FAT
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 89
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 3408
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N74JT
NTSB Number LAX82FA224
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model H-18
Aircraft Series Identifier H-18
Aircraft Serial Number BA-639
Certified Max Gross Weight 10100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Unknown
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 526
Airframe Hours 6988
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WEST STATES AIR TAXI
Aircraft Owner Street Address STARR ENTER. 7124 DECELIS PLAC
Aircraft Owner City VAN NUYS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91406
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WEST STATES AIR TAXI
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address STARR ENTER. 7124 DECELIS PLAC
Operator City VAN NUYS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91406
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 Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FAT
Departure City FRESNO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAX
Destination City LOS ANGELES
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29R
Runway Length 9218
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --