# Accident 20040507007689A: Doug C54BDC, Mcgrath, AK, May 7, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2004, 21:45 local time
- Place: Mcgrath, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Starting Engines
- Operating rules: Part 125 operator
- Operator: B2OB
- Location: 63.0072° N, 156.5122° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0072&lon=-156.5122&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44911, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44911-2017-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas C54B-DC (registry code 3021516, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-c54b-dc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG C54BDC
- Reported engine: PWA R2000*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC04LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040507007689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) BROOKS AIR FUEL A/C N44911 HAD AN EXPLOSION IN THE AREA OF NUMBER ONE ENGINE AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THIS WAS A FOUR-ENGINE START SEQUENCE IN WHICH THE #1 ENGINE WAS LAST. THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE CAUSED THE #1 ENGINE AND A MAJOR PORTION OF THE WING TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT, WING SEPARATION WAS BETWEEN #1 AND #2 ENGINES. #1 ENGINE WAS UP AND RUNNING SECONDS PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED (-23 AMENDMENT) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                 EXPLOSION IN #1 AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AFTER START ON GROUND. #1 AND #2 MAIN FUEL TANKS RUPTURED. APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 500 GALLONS OF FUEL BURNED. BURNED WING OFF OF AIRCRAFT JUST OUTBOARD OF #2 ENGINE NACELLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC04LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA052), May 8, 2004: Douglas C-54B (N44911), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fuel tank explosion in the left wing auxiliary fuel tank, and subsequent fuel fire that occurred during engine start for an undetermined reason.

## Other reports on N44911 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19970902029709I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970902029709I), Sep 2, 1997: Doug C54BDC (N44911), Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. Narrative: after takeoff captain noticed #2 engine cowling had shifted forward and lower forward edge had been hit by the propeller. The #2 engine was shutdown…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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