A key finding in the Systems Group report completed on March 5, 1986 indicates that the pilot, Captain John Griffin, activated an engine fire extinguisher before impact.

There are four engine fire extinguishers on a DC-8 consisting of a fluid tank that releases a fire retardant agent when activated by the pilot. When the pilot decides to put on the fire extinguisher, he activates an electrical charge which releases an explosive cartridge that fires a small projectile which ruptures a diaphragm and releases the fluid. Here is what the report says about one of those fire extinguishing systems; "The second container did not have the raised areas. When the valves were disassembled it was found that one explosive cartridge had been fired, but that this had occurred while there was still agent in the container to dampen the force of the impact on the interior surface". (see Exhibit 38)

This important piece of evidence demonstrates that this fire extinguisher bottle was ruptured by intentional discharge before impact and not by the intense heat of the fire. Captain Lee Levinson, a personal friend of the dead pilot says: "There is a smoking gun there... and it's the No. 4 engine". (see Exhibit 36) The No. 4 engine was scheduled to be replaced after dropping off the soldiers in Fort Campbell, Kentucky on December 12. It was to fly immediately to Oakland, California to have a new engine installed. It had been rotating at a slow pace and overheating for some time.