# NTSB DCA86AA012: Douglas DC-3, N711Y, Dekalb, TX, December 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1985, 17:14 local (23:14 UTC)
- Place: Dekalb, TX
- Coordinates: 33.500949, -94.609214 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5009&lon=-94.6092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA012

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise
  - fuselage,cabin - fire (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - fuselage,cabin - smoke (contributing factor)
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not used (contributing factor)
  - oxygen system - not used (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT 1708:48, WHILE CRUISING AT 6000', A PILOT OF N711Y ADVISED ATC, 'I THINK I'D LIKE TO TURN AROUND, HEAD FOR TEXARKANA HERE, I'VE GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM.' HE WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR & ADVISED OF CLOSEST AIRPORTS. SHORTLY AFTER, HE STATED HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORTS. AT 1711:49, HE SAID THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. WHILE LANDING IN A FIELD AT 1714, THE AIRCRAFT HIT WIRES & A POLE THEN CONTINUED INTO TREES WHERE IT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY IMPACT & FIRE. THE CREW EGRESSED THRU THE COCKPIT WINDOWS. THE PASSENGERS DID NOT ESCAPE. DURING FLIGHT, THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO START THE CABIN HEATER; DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY THE CAPTAIN. SMOKE THEN ENTERED THE CABIN. FRESH AIR VENTS & COCKPIT WINDOWS WERE OPENED, BUT SMOKE BECAME DENSE. THE CREW HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING. THE OXYGEN SYSTEM & HAND HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE NOT USED. FASTENERS FOR THE HEATER DOOR WERE FOUND UNFASTENED. EXAMINATION INDICATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE AFTCABIN AREA, RIGHT HAND SIDE, AT OR NEAR THE FLOOR LINE. THE IGNITION AND FUEL SOURCES WERE NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N711Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 13650
- Engines: P&W R-1830-75 1100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Rick Nelson
- Registered owner: Century Equipment Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GUNTERSVILLE, AL
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,700 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19851231072819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851231072819A), Dec 31, 1985: Doug DC3C, Dekalb, TX, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Smoke filled cabin enroute. Pilot failed to use correct procedures. Forced down into trees. Source of fire unknown.

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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