- Date
- September 16, 1990, 13:26 local (18:26 UTC)
- Place
- Conroe, TX
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N7428CLockheed PV-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900916039859A
- Case key
- 22977
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The engine starter remained engaged after engine start and the electrical system overheat.
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
During taxi to takeoff the crew sensed an odor similar to an electrical fire, and smoke became apparent in the cockpit. Both generators and the battery master were secured. The right generator would not accept a load and smoke was coming from the right wing accessory j-box in the right wheel well. Three occupants deplaned and initially extinguished the fire, which reignited due to hot metal and compromised fuel/oil lines. All systems were secured and the pilot then evacuated the airplane, which was consumed by the fire. The pilot estimated that fire fighting equipment did not arrive for 20-25 minutes after the fire began. FAA inspectors were unable to determine the fire source from the burned wreckage. However, the operator's report stated that the right starter solenoid did not open after engine start causing the starter to remain linked to the electrical system. This resulted in a system overload and subsequent electrical fire. Both fuel and oil lines were routed through the right wheel well for cockpit indications.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7428C
- Reported as
- Lockheed PV-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 151228
- Airframe hours
- 1,900
- Engine
- P&W R2800-31, 2,000 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Confederate Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection
- AAIP · September 4, 1990 · 5 hours before
- Destination
- LFT · Lafayette, LA
- Airport
- CXO · Montgomery County, runway 19, 4,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 500 in this make and model · 16,000 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- IAH
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.