# NTSB FTW83LA234: Beech TC-45G, N63310, Abilene, TX, May 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1983, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Location: 32.4113° N, 99.6819° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ABILENE RGNL (ABI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4113&lon=-99.6819&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA234

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Fire, landing
  - engine assembly - fire (cause)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

ABOUT 30 MI EAST OF ABILENE THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER ON THE LEFT ENG. THE PLT FEATHERED THE PROP & MADE AN EMERGENCY APPROACH INTO ABILENE. UNABLE TO HOLD INITIAL APPROACH ALTITUDE, THE PLT RESTARTED THE LEFT ENG, BUT COULD OBTAIN ONLY PARTIAL POWER. THE PROP STAYED IN THE FEATHERED POSITION & THE ENG DIED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENG FOR TAXI, HE WAS INFORMED BY A FOLLOWING ACFT THAT HIS LEFT ENG WAS ON FIRE. INSPECTION SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A FIRE IN THE LEFT ENG ACCESSORY SECTION WHICH HAD BURNED THROUGH THE TOP, BOTTOM & LEFT SKIN AREAS OF THE NACELLE. FIRE DAMAGE AFT OF THE FIREWALL WAS ONLY IN A SMALL AREA BUT EVIDENCE REVEALED SOME SCORCHING & RELATIVELY HIGH TEMP EXPOSURE TO THE AREA OF THE MAIN WING SPAR. WITHIN THE ACCESSORY AREA, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO FUEL LINES, ACCESSORY CASE & RELATED COMPONENTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63310](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63310-2013-06-14), registration cancelled 2013-06-14, S/N AF-131, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech TC-45G
- Registry model: [Beech TC-45G](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-tc-45g) (registry code 1151016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AF 131
- Airframe hours: 5396
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Abc Airlines Inc.
- Registered owner: James Hudson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 4, 1983
- Departed: DFW, DALLAS, TX
- Destination: MAF, MIDLAND, TX
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: ABI, Abilene Municipal, runway 35, 7,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,600 total, 3,560 in this make and model, 12,600 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABI

## 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 19830514019469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830514019469A), May 14, 1983: Beech TC45G, Abilene, TX, Substantial damage. Left engine feathered due to power loss. Fire in engine trying to restart on rollout. Inadequate fire rescue unit.

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.