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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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June 19, 1982 · Beech H-18 · N74JT

Fresno, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 19, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fresno, CA
Aircraft
Beech H-18
Tail Number
N74JT
Operator
West States Air Taxi
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX82FA224

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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:56 PDT
Nearest AirportFresno Air Terminal (0nm N)
Runway29R
Runway Length9218 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBeech H-18
Tail NumberN74JT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWest States Air Taxi
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP & W · R-985-14B · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point19 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data