Cessna 402B accident near Altus, Oklahoma, February 6, 1985
On February 6, 1985 at about 3:43 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N5780M, was destroyed in an accident near Altus, Oklahoma (Altus Afb airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1985 · about 3:43 pm local time
- Place
- Altus, Oklahoma · Altus Afb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5780M · no longer on the register · serial 402B-0348
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN ENG START, PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE L ENG BACKFIRED 2 OR 3 TIMES. A WITNESS DESCRIBED THE 1ST BACKFIRED AS 'THE LOUDEST I HAVE EVER HEARD.' WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF, TWO PERSONS LIVING NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY NOTED THAT THE ACFT (BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME) SOUNDED DIFFERENT & HAD A 'CLUTTERING SOUND. 'WHILE CLIMBING, THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REPORTED A FIRE IN THE L ENG. HE WAS VECTORED TOWARD ALTUS AFB WHILE DSCNDG IN IFR CONDITIONS. HE DSCNDD INTO VFR CONDITIONS & SAW THE ARPT ABOUT 3 MI AWAY. A WITNESS SAW SMOKE & FIRE TRAILING FROM THE VICINITY OF THE L ENG. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT'S NOSE CAME UP, THE PLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ENG EXHAUST MAINIFOLD HEADER ASSY HAD FAILED & ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ESCAPE IN THE ENG NACELLE IN THE VICINITY OF FUEL & OIL LINES. CORROSION HAD PROGRESSED THRU THE HEADER ASSY. AD 75-23-08 REQD GEN INSPN, BUT CONTAINED NOTE 'DO NOT REMOVE CLAMPS.' NO RECORD OF REPLACEMENT IN 6100 HRS
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,227 hours in all; 643 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 3,762 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,100 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 10, 1985; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Altus Airline, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AXS Altus OK at 3:34 pm
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; not recorded at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from LTS, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.