- Date
- August 11, 1985, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Richmond, VA
- Injuries
- 78 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8856EBoeing 727-225
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850811077589I
- Case key
- 11154
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
The flt was in cruise at FL 350 when the cabin crew reported a cabin fire in the vicinity of seat 28A. Shortly after, a lower aft body overheat warning was recvd. The flt diverted to Richmond, VA. During descent, the flt crew performed the appropriate checklist and the lower aft body cvht light went out about 3 to 4 mins. After it illuminated. Later examination revealed that a pax handbag that was on the floor against the cabin exhaust outlet adjacent to seat 28A was extensively fire damaged. The carpet under the handbag was unburned except for a small portion leading to the cabin air exhaust outlet. Localized fire damage was present behind and below the outlet. Among the contents of the handbag was a bottle of hairspray, found with the cap loose. The label on the bottle warned that the contents were flammable. Row 28 was in the smoking section for that flt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8856E
- Reported as
- Boeing 727-225
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20618
- Airframe hours
- 39,850
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-15, 15,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Eastern Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 1, 1984
- Departed
- EWR · Newark, NJ
- Destination
- RSW · Fort Myers, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12,393 total · 4,483 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RIC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.