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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 29, 1988 · Beech E18S · N300W

Cynthiana, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 29, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Cynthiana, KY
Aircraft
Beech E18S
Tail Number
N300W
Operator
Aero-Taxi-Rockford
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88FA158

The pilot was repositioning the airplane from an on-demand air taxi freight flight. He was en route from Rochester, NY to Huntsville, AL with a planned refuel stop at Louisville, KY. Near Falmouth, KY he changed his destination to Lexington due to a developing engine problem. He saw the airport at Cynthiana and elected to land there. While on downwind, he noted the left engine cowling turning black and on base noted flames from the left engine. He reported shutting the engine down and feathering the propeller but did not activate the fire extinguisher. During the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway to the right, and collided with the airport wind 'T', a pole and a 'T' hangar. Post accident investigation revealed that the left prop was not feathered and the fuel was not shut off. The left brake was ineffective due to fire damage. The evidence indicated that the fire began in the vicinity of the left engine accessory section. The specific fuel source of the fire was not identified.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS REPOSITIONING THE AIRPLANE FROM AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FREIGHT FLIGHT. HE WAS EN ROUTE FROM ROCHESTER, NY TO HUNTSVILLE, AL WITH A PLANNED REFUEL STOP AT LOUISVILLE, KY. NEAR FALMOUTH, KY HE CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO LEXINGTON 'DUE TO A DEVELOPING ENGINE PROBLEM'. HE SAW THE AIRPORT AT CYNTHIANA AND ELECTED TO LAND THERE. WHILE ON DOWNWIND, HE NOTED THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING TURNING BLACK AND ON BASE NOTED FLAMES FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. HE REPTD SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN AND FEATHERING THE PROPELLER BUT DID NOT ACTIVATE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT, AND COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT WIND 'T', A POLE AND A 'T' HANGAR. POST ACC INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED AND THE FUEL WAS NOT SHUT OFF. THE LEFT BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION. THE SPECIFIC FUEL SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportCynthiana Harrison Co. (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech E18S
Tail NumberN300W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAero-Taxi-Rockford
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985-14B · Reciprocating · 450
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 24 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data