# NTSB LAX82IA103: Douglas DC-9-82, N778JA, Long Beach, CA, March 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1982, 18:53 local (Mar 11, 1982, 02:53 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.810272, -118.180915 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8103&lon=-118.1809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 68 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82IA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82IA103

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

DURING ENGINE START, GROUND PERSONNEL REPORTED OVER THE INTERCOM TO THE PILOTS THAT FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE NO. 2 ENGINE AS IT WAS SPOOLING UP AND CALLED FOR CONTINUED MOTORING WITH THE FUEL LEVER OFF. WHEN GROUND PERSONNEL THEN REPORTED A FIRE THE CAPTAIN DISCHARGED BOTH FIRE BOTTLES AND CONTINUED MOTORING THE ENGINE. AIRPORT FIRE CREWS ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EVACUATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO FIRE WARNINGS WERE RECEIVED IN THE COCKPIT, ACCORDING TO BOTH PILOTS. THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND NO REASON FOR THE FIRE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N778JA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-82
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 48080
- Airframe hours: 1151
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217 20800 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Jet America Airlines
- Registered owner: Mcdonald Douglas Finance Corp
- Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Destination: CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach/Daughety Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,211 total, 168 in this make and model, 2,725 as pilot in command, 268 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Temperature: 153 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19820310010739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820310010739I), Mar 10, 1982: Doug DC981, Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. Difficulty on engine start. Caused wet start and engine fire. Fire put out. Tailwind a possible factor.

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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