# NTSB DCA96MA079: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10CF, N68055, Newburgh, NY, September 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: September 5, 1996, 05:54 local (09:54 UTC) - Place: Newburgh, NY - Coordinates: 41.500469, -74.019317 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5005&lon=-74.0193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 11012 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA96MA079.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11012/pdf - Board report AAR9803 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9803.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA96MA079 ## Probable cause an in-flight cargo fire of undetermined origin. (NTSB Report AAR-98/03) ## Analysis The airplane was at FL 330 when the flightcrew determined that there was smoke in the cabin cargo compartment. An emergency was declared and the flight diverted to Newburgh/Stewart International Airport and landed. The airplane was destroyed by fire after landing. The fire had burned for about 4 hours after after smoke was first detected. Investigation revealed that the deepest and most severe heat and fire damage occurred in and around container 6R, which contained a DNA synthesizer containing flammable liquids. More of 6R's structure was consumed than of any other container, and it was the only container that exhibited severe floor damage. Further, 6R was the only container to exhibit heat damage on its bottom surface, and the area below container 6R showed the most extensive evidence of scorching of the composite flooring material. However, there was insufficient reliable evidence to reach a conclusion as to where the fire originated. The presence of flammable chemicals in the DNA synthesizer was wholly unintended and unknown to the preparer of the package and shipper. The captain did not adequately manage his crew resourses when he failed to call for checklists or to monitor and facilitate the accomplishment of required checklist items. The Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations do not adequately address the need for hazardous materials information on file at a carrier to be quickly retrievable in a format useful to emergency responders. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1996, about 0555 edt, Federal Express flight 1406, N68055, made an emergency landing at Newburgh/Stewart International Airport, Newburgh, New York, following a warning of smoke in the cabin. The intended flight was from Memphis, Tennessee, to Boston, Massachusetts. En route, at flight level 330, cockpit warning lights for cargo compartment smoke detectors activated. The Captain declared an emergency, and requested clearance to land at the nearest suitable airport. Stewart airport fire and rescue units were alerted and were standing by when the airplane landed successfully on runway 27. After the airplane was brought to a stop on a high speed taxiway, the 3 flightcrew members and 2 jumpseat crew evacuated using the forward emergency exits and cockpit emergency ropes. The Captain received rope burns to his hands while sliding down his emergency rope. No other injuries were reported. Smoke initially came from the emergency exits and approximately 1 hour after landing a fire broke through the fuselage above the cabin ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - cargo/baggage - smoke (cause) - cargo/baggage - fire (cause) - cargo/baggage - undetermined (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command - hazardous material - information insufficient, other government personnel - Forced landing, emergency landing ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68055](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68055-1997-01-06), registration cancelled 1997-01-06, S/N 47809 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10CF - Registry model: [Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-10F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-10f) (registry code 3022111) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47809 - Airframe hours: 38271 - Engines: GE CF6-6D 41000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 121 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 5, 1996 - Departed: MEMPHIS, TN - Destination: BOS, BOSTON, MA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SWF, Newburgh/Stewart Intl, runway 27, 11,818 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; 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: 12,344 total, 2,504 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 140 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days - Flight engineer; age 45; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 178 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SWF ## 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 19960905047369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960905047369A), Sep 5, 1996: Doug DC1010F, Newburgh, NY, Destroyed. (-16) While in cruise flight at FL 330, the crew received multiple cargo fire/smoke warnings from sensors mounted overhead in the cabin. The crew accomplished… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.