# NTSB ATL89MA123: Beech 200, N30PC, Pensacola, FL, April 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1989, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Coordinates: 30.469461, -87.190292 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4695&lon=-87.1903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8077
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89MA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8077/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89MA123

## Probable cause

AN IN FLIGHT CABIN FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN, AND SMOKE (TOXIC CONDITION) IN THE CREW COMPARTMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE FLIGHT CREW.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, climb
  - fuselage,cabin - fire (cause)
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - initiated
  - remedial action - not attained
  - oxygen system - not selected
  - physical impairment(other toxic), pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(other toxic), copilot/second pilot (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROUTINELY FLOWN TO PENSACOLA TO PICKUP A GULF POWER EXECUTIVE FOR A FLIGHT TO ATLANTA. THE PAX HAD 4 BAGS, 2 PLACED IN THE AFT BAGGAGE AREA BY THE GROUND CREW, THE OTHER 2 CARRIED ONBOARD BY THE PAX. AFTER TAKEOFF THE CVR RECORDED THE PAX STATING THAT THERE WAS A FIRE. THE FIRE IN THE AFT CABIN AREA WAS CONFIRMED BY THE 1ST OFFICER. AN EMERG WAS DECLARED TO THE PNS ATCT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN DESCENDING OUT OF THE OVERCAST STREAMING DARK SMOKE BEHIND IT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED IT. NO EVIDENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE, AIRCRAFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, OR INCENDIARY DEVICE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. FORENSIC CHEMICAL TESTS SHOWED TRACES OF HYDROCHLORIC AND SULPHURIC ACID ON PAX ARTICLES BUT NONE ON THE CABIN INTERIOR. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF BROKEN FUEL LINE SHOWED OVERLOAD FAILURE AND POST HEAT DISTRESS. THE INTERIOR OF THE COCKPIT WINDOWS WERE SEVERELY SOOTED. THE FLIGHT CREW DID NOT DON AVAILABLE OXYGEN MASKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30PC-1990-06-05), registration cancelled 1990-06-05, S/N BB702 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 200
- Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB702
- Airframe hours: 6351
- Engines: P&W PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Southern Company Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 28, 1989, 79 hours before
- Departed: PNS, PENSACOLA, FL
- Destination: PDK, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PNS, Pensacola Regional, runway 34, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; airline transport, flight instructor, 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: 14,200 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,200 as pilot in command, 114 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PNS, 3 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).

- [Accident 19890410007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890410007409A), Apr 10, 1989: Beech 200BEECH, Pensacola, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Cabin fire erupted inflight. Occupants ingested disabling smoke prior impact. Struck apartment. Fire suspicious.

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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