- Date
- October 31, 1983, 20:30 local (Nov 1, 1983, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Laredo, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N44896Douglas DC-3-3C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831031055799A
- Case key
- 21077
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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 original flt was aborted due to a magneto problem. The defect was corrected, but due to the delayed takeoff, the plt elected to fly to mcallen, TX, for further repairs. During the takeoff roll, the aircrew noted sparks/flares on the left side of the cargo/cabin area, behind a bulkhead. The aborted the takeoff & attempted to extinguish the fire, but were unable. The crew then evacuated the acft & the acft was destroyed by fire. An investigation was made, but the source of the fire was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44896
- Reported as
- Douglas DC-3-3C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9665
- Airframe hours
- 40,694
- Engine
- P&W R-1830-92, 1,830 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frank Hines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Unknown · October 25, 1983 · 45 hours before
- Destination
- MFE · Mcallen, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- LRD · Laredo Internationl, runway 17, 7,809 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,100 total · 5,100 in this make and model · 4,850 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 100° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LRD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.