# NTSB MKC90LA110: Beech S35, N5892J, Gardner, KS, May 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1990, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Gardner, KS
- Coordinates: 38.810752, -94.920028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8108&lon=-94.9200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA110

## Probable cause

AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
  - fuselage,crew compartment - fire
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTED FIRE COMING FROM THE AREA AROUND HIS FEET, WHICH FILLED THE COCKPIT.  HE COVERED HIS FACE WITH HIS ARMS & 'PULLED' THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE OR PROP CONTROL, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY.  THE PLT SAID HE KICKED OUT A WINDOW, CRAWLED OUT & ROLLED IN THE GRASS TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES ON HIS BODY.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.  A POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REVEAL THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5892J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5892J-1996-05-06), registration cancelled 1996-05-06, S/N D7882 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7882
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Anderson, Wayne O.
- Registered owner: Wayne Anderson
- Destination: OJC, OLATHE, KS
- Airport: NONE, Hayden, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Observed at: OJC, 10 nm away

## 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 19900521066149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900521066149A), May 21, 1990: Beech S35, Gardner, KS, Destroyed

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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