# NTSB SEA01IA093: Beech C-99, N992AF, Salem, OR, May 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2001, 17:45 local (May 15, 2001, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Salem, OR - Coordinates: 45.020694, -123.110595 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0207&lon=-123.1106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01IA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52318/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01IA093 ## Probable cause A short to electrical wiring while in cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - normal - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 9,000 feet and in instrument meteorological conditions, he smelled a burning order, then observed a flame coming from the main circuit breaker panel on the right side. While the pilot was talking to air traffic control, the flame extinguished leaving smoke in the cockpit. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport and landed without further incident. Maintenance personnel found that a 1/4 inch hole had burned through the circuit breaker panel surface fascia. The fire was apparently caused by an internal short in the backlighting panel immediately under the fascia panel. The backlight panel contains numerous small-gage wires and grain-of-wheat light bulbs. The malfunction did not draw sufficient current to trip a circuit breaker. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2001, approximately 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Beech C-99, N992AF, registered to Fleet Capital Corp. and operated by Ameriflight Inc. as a 14 CFR Part 135 on demand cargo flight, experienced an in-flight fire from the main circuit breaker panel below the right cockpit window while in cruise flight. The flame extinguished shortly thereafter. The pilot diverted to and landed without further incident at Salem, Oregon. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received minor damage and the airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Portland, Oregon, about 10 minutes prior to the incident. The flight was destined for Roseburg, Oregon. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that the aircraft was in cruise flight at 9,000 feet when he noted an odor. The pilot then observed a flame coming from the main circuit breaker panel on the right side. While the pilot was talking to air traffic control, the flame extinguished leaving smoke in the cockpit. The pilot diverted to Salem, and landed without further incident. Maintenance personnel inspected the airplane and reported that, "a 1/4 inch hole had burned through the circuit breaker panel surface fascia. Maintenance reported that the fire was apparently caused by an internal short in the backlighting panel immediately under the fascia panel. The backlight panel contains numerous small-gage wires and grain-of-wheat light bulbs. The malfunction did not draw sufficient current to trip a circuit breaker." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N992AF), registered now, S/N U-203, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C-99 - Registry model: [Beech C-99](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-99) (registry code 1154006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U-203 - Airframe hours: 22560 - Engines: P&W PT6A-36 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Fleet Capital Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 6, 2001, 44 hours before - Departed: PDX, Portland, OR - Destination: RBG, Roseburg, OR - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,670 total, 430 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day ## 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 20010514010749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010514010749I), May 14, 2001: Beech C99, Salem, OR, Minor damage. (-23)A Beech BE-99-C99 operated by ameriflight, inc (amf), as a part 135 on-demand cargo flight, experienced an inflight fire from the main circuit breaker… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.