# NTSB ATL85IA047: Boeing 727-251, N264US, Atlanta, GA, December 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1984, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.7490° N, 84.3880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlanta, GA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7490&lon=-84.3880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 99 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85IA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6673/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85IA047

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,electric wiring - undetermined (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - overtemperature (cause)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,galley - smoke

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLT ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE TEMP CONTROL UNIT FOR THE REAR GALLEY OVEN. ASSOCIATED CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENED, ELECTRICAL POWER TO GALLEY WAS TURNED OFF AND WITHIN MINUTES THE UNIT WAS COOL TO TOUCH. UNSCHEDULED LANDING WAS MADE. MANUFACTURER OF UNIT REPORTEDLY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. OVERHEATED OVEN TEMP CONTROL CIRCUITRY IS ENCLOSED IN METAL BOX. AIRLINE REPORTED THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM AND ON 12/7/84 BEGAN TO RETROFIT REMAINING UNITS WITH A CIRCUIT MODIFICATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N264US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N264US-2008-10-07), registration cancelled 2008-10-07, S/N 19983, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-251
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-251) (registry code 138408H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19983
- Engines: P&W JT9D turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Hartsfield

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,805 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 50 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19841204067069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841204067069I), Dec 4, 1984: Boeing 727251, Atlanta, GA. Smoke from oven in galley. Circuit breaker tripped, power to galley turned off. Off schedule landing.

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.

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