# NTSB ATL88MA053: Hawker Siddeley HS-125-400A, N400PH, Lexington, KY, December 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1987, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, KY
- Coordinates: 38.069751, -84.57991 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0698&lon=-84.5799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious, 2 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7819
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88MA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7819/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88MA053

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - exhaust system,exhaust cone/tailpipe(jet engine) - cracked (contributing factor)
  - exhaust system,exhaust cone/tailpipe(jet engine) - leak (contributing factor)
  - engine compartment - overtemperature (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - emergency procedure - intentional
  - 
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - precautionary landing - initiated
  - raising of flaps - inadvertent (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE AT FL 370, THE PLTS DECLARED AN EMERG, RPRTD A FIRE IN THE RGT ENG & REQD VECTORS TO THE NEAREST SUITABLEARPT. THEY WERE VECTORED TWD THE LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS ARPT & CLRD TO DSCND. SHORTLY AFTER DECLARING AN EMERG, THE PLTS RPRTD THEY SECURED THE RGT ENG & EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE LGT. AS THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LND, THE LOCAL CTLR (USING BINOCULARS) CONFIRMED THAT BOTH THE GEAR & FLAPS WERE EXTENDED. HOWEVER, AS THE ACFT CONTD ONTO A SHORT FINAL APCH, AN INCREASE IN ITS PITCH ATTITUDE WAS NOTED. IT THEN DROPPED BELOW THE LVL OF THE RWY THRESHOLD & IMPACTED IN A PASTURE SHORT OF THE RWY. AFTER INITIAL IMPACT, THE ACFT WENT THRU A STONE FENCE, HIT 2 UTILITY POLES, CROSSED A HIWAY, CAME TO REST AT THE PERIMETER FENCE & BURNED. AN AUTO WAS DMGD BY DEBRIS; 2 OCCUPANTS RECD MINOR INJURIES. AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED WITH THE GEAR EXTD, BUT THE FLAPS & FLAP HANDLE WERE FND IN THE UP PSN. AN EXAM OF THE RGT ENG REVEALED ITS OUTER EXHAUST CONE WAS CRACKED IN THE VCNTY OF A FIRE DETECTION LOOP. NO OTR PREEXISTING MECH PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400PH-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N NA716, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hawker Siddeley HS-125-400A (HS-125-400)
- Registry model: [Hawker Siddeley DH.125-400A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawker-siddeley-dh-125-400a) (registry code 4230140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce VIPER MK522](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-viper-mk522) (registry code 54552, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NA716
- Airframe hours: 5710
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 522 3360 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Scott Cable Communication
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 31, 1987, 108 hours before
- Departed: DALLAS, TX
- Destination: NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LEX, Lexington, runway 22, 6,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,565 total, 80 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LEX

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19871205082889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871205082889A), Dec 5, 1987: Hwksly DH125400A, Lexington, KY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Right engine fire light on. Went out when shut down. Tailcone crack activated fire warning. Flaps were up on impact

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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