Narrative:
In preparation for a flight to Fairbanks, the crew successfully started engines number 4,3, and 2 in succession. As the crew started engine number 1, an explosion occurred in the wing area between engines no. 1 and 2. Engine no. 1 and the remaining outboard section of the left wing separated from the rest of the wing. The crew applied engine power in the remaining engines and taxied away from the area of the explosion. The crew then stopped about mid-field and disembarked the airplane.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A fuel tank explosion in the left wing auxiliary fuel tank, and subsequent fuel fire that occurred during engine start for an undetermined reason."
Damaged on the ground
» NTSB
accident date: 08-05-2004
type: Douglas C-54P
registration: N44911
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 8 May 2004 |
| Time: | 21:30 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54P (DC-4) |
| Operator: | Brooks Air Fuel |
| Registration: | N44911 |
| MSN: | 10461 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 29667 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-4 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Ganes Creek, AK ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Ganes Creek, AK, United States of America |
| Fairbanks International Airport, AK (FAI/PAFA), United States of America |
In preparation for a flight to Fairbanks, the crew successfully started engines number 4,3, and 2 in succession. As the crew started engine number 1, an explosion occurred in the wing area between engines no. 1 and 2. Engine no. 1 and the remaining outboard section of the left wing separated from the rest of the wing. The crew applied engine power in the remaining engines and taxied away from the area of the explosion. The crew then stopped about mid-field and disembarked the airplane.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A fuel tank explosion in the left wing auxiliary fuel tank, and subsequent fuel fire that occurred during engine start for an undetermined reason."
Classification:
Fuel tank explosionDamaged on the ground
Sources:
» FAA» NTSB
Photos
accident date: 08-05-2004
type: Douglas C-54P
registration: N44911
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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