Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 incident near Birmingham, Alabama, October 1, 2000
On October 1, 2000 at about 9:18 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80, registered N69826, suffered minor damage in an incident near Birmingham, Alabama (Birmingham Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 146 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF MAINTENACE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW FLEET CAMPAIGN DIRECTIVE ON HOW TO INSTALL A CERTIFICATE HOLDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2000 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- Birmingham, Alabama · Birmingham Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 146 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registration
- N69826 · registry record · serial MD-80-82
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, at flight level 310, an MD-80, operated by Continental Airlines experienced an electrical fire. An emergency was declared and the flight was diverted into Birmingham, Alabama, and landed without further incident. The examination of the airplane disclosed a 2 by 1 1/2 inch fire-damaged hole in the left jump seat wall.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39,417 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 6, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 149,500 lb
- Seats: 172
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W JT8D (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA
- Destination: IAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BHM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 141 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.