The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ATL90LA080 · Final report

Learjet 24 accident near Anderson, South Carolina, March 16, 1990

On March 16, 1990 at about 2:45 am local time, a Learjet 24, registered N100VQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anderson, South Carolina (Anderson County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

ELECTRICAL ARCING WHICH RESULTED FROM A SHORT IN THE PILOT'S MAP LIGHT CIRCUIT; A CHAFTED WIRE CONTACTED THE OXYGEN SUPPLY LINE AT THE OXYGEN CONTROL PANEL IN THE COCKPIT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE OXYGEN PANEL PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE PILOT'S MAP LIGHT WHICH ALLOWED CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 16, 1990 · about 2:45 am local time · cases in 1990
Place
Anderson, South Carolina · Anderson County · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Learjet 24 · all 24s on the register
Registration
N100VQ · registry record · serial 140
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

WHILE CRUISING AT 42,000 FEET, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADUST HIS MAP LIGHT WHEN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED. WHEN THE COPILOT RESET THE BREAKER A FIRE IGNITED AT THE OXYGEN PANEL. THE BLOWTORCH EFFECT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT INTERIOR AT THE PILOT'S STATION. TWO PASSENGERS WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. EXAMINATION OF THE DAMAGED AREA DISCLOSED THAT A WIRE FROM THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARCED AND CONTACTED AN OXYGEN SUPPLY LINE. FURTHER EXAMINATION ALSO DISCLOSED LOOSE OXYGEN LINES ADJACENT TO THE ARCING. SUBSEQUENT TO THE MISHAP, LEARJET DEVELOPED A PROTECTION KIT TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE OXYGEN LINES AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

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
  • Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 10,014 hours
  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 2, 1989; 50 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
  • Seats: 8
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Ge CJ610-4 (turbofan); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 1:51 am
  • Destination: TPA Tampa FL
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 1:50 am from AND

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2
Passengers2

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL90LA080.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.