- Date
- March 15, 1990, 21:45 local (Mar 16, 1990, 02:45 UTC)
- Place
- Anderson, SC
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N100VQLearjet 24
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900315004489A
- Case key
- 8218
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Electrical arcing which resulted from a short in the pilot's map light circuit; a chafted wire contacted the oxygen supply line at the oxygen control panel in the cockpit. A factor in the accident was the inadequate design of the oxygen panel plumbing and electrical wiring for the pilot's map light which allowed contact between the two systems.
Analysis
While cruising at 42,000 feet, the pilot attempted to adust his map light when the circuit breaker popped. When the copilot reset the breaker a fire ignited at the oxygen panel. The blowtorch effect caused extensive damage to the left interior at the pilot's station. Two passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Examination of the damaged area disclosed that a wire from the light assembly arced and contacted an oxygen supply line. Further examination also disclosed loose oxygen lines adjacent to the arcing. Subsequent to the mishap, Learjet developed a protection kit to prevent contact between the oxygen lines and electrical components.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N100VQ
- Reported as
- Learjet 24
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 140
- Airframe hours
- 10,014
- Engine
- GE CJ610-4, 2,850 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Suncoast Air Charter & Maint.
- Last inspection
- Unknown · November 2, 1989 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- OSU · Columbus, OH
- Destination
- TPA · Tampa, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AND · Anderson County, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,300 total · 800 in this make and model · 2,200 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- AND
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.