# NTSB CHI85FA170: Beech E18S, N68V, Janesville, WI, April 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1985, 21:20 local (Apr 21, 1985, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Janesville, WI
- Coordinates: 42.680717, -89.010597 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6807&lon=-89.0106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12829/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA170

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - to takeoff
  - fuel system,line - leak (cause)
  - fire extinguishing equipment - not received, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON APRIL 20,1985 AT APPROX. 2100HRS LOCAL TIME A BEECHCRAFT MODEL E185 N68Y OWNED AND OPERATED BY BLACKHAWK AIRWAYS INC. WAS CONDUCTING A NORMAL RUNUP IN PREPARATION FOR A FLIGHT FROM JANESVILLE, WI. (JVL) TO CHICAGO IL. (ORD). AT THE COMPLETION OF THE OF THE RUNUP,BUT PRIOR TO TAKING THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE. AFTER ADVISING THE JANESVILLE CONTROL TOWER OF THE PROBLEM AND REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO BLOW THE FIRE OUT AND AFTER BEING UNSUCCESSFUL, SECURED BOTH ENGINES AND EEXITED THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH HIS PASSENGER. THE FIRE WAS ESTINGUISHED BY AIRPORT FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT ASSISTED BY UNITS OF THE BELOIT, WI. FIRE DEPT. SOURCE OF FIRE APPEARS TO BE FROM A FUEL LINE, BUT EXACT SOURCE UNDETERMINED DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68V-1991-01-28), registration cancelled 1991-01-28, S/N BA282 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-282
- Airframe hours: 11134
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: J. Richard Wixom, doing business as Blackhawk Airways,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 3, 1985, 40 hours before
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; 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: 4,834 total, 86 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JVL

## 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 19850420015759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850420015759A), Apr 20, 1985: Beech E18S, Janesville, WI, Substantial damage. Fire started in left engine nacelle after the pre takeoff check. There was too much fire damage to determine cause.

## Other investigations on N68V (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI69A0070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69A0070), Feb 5, 1969: Beech E18S (N68V), La Crosse, WI, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.