# NTSB FTW87FA116: Beech V35-B, N1861W, Terrell, TX, May 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1987, 21:00 local (May 8, 1987, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Terrell, TX
- Coordinates: 32.730991, -96.290191 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7310&lon=-96.2902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22245/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA116

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - burned (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - fluid,hydraulic - leak (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE AIRCRAFT THE STARTER SOLENOID WIRING CAUGHT FIRE. THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE CAUSED AN OVERSTRESSED BRAKE LINE TO FALL, ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO DRAIN ONTO THE LIP OF THE NOSE GEAR DOOR. THE FIRE THEN BURNED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE COCKPIT DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1861W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35-B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-9479
- Airframe hours: 1337
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: B.R. Somerford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1986, 9 hours before
- Departed: TRL, TERRELL, TX
- Airport: TRL, Terrell Mun.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,603 total, 1,530 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19870507079209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870507079209A), May 7, 1987: Beech V35B, Terrell, TX, Destroyed. Destroyed by fire as the pilot attempted to start engine. Fire was fueled by brake fluid from broken brake line.

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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