Douglas DC-8-62 N730PL

Summary

On 12 March 1991 at about 14:06 local time, a Douglas DC-8-62 registered N730PL, operated by Air Transport International, was involved in an accident near Jamaica, New York, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 March 1991 at 14:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Jamaica, New York, United States

Nearest airport

John L Kennedy Intl (JFK)

Coordinates

40.6498, -73.7895

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8-62

Registration

N730PL

Category

Airplane

Engines

4

Operator

Air Transport International

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Brussels, Blgm

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC91FA086

2 people had minor injuries.

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, IN THAT THE FLIGHT ENGINEER MISCALCULATED (MISJUDGED) THE AIRCRAFT'S GROSS WEIGHT BY 100,000 LBS AND PROVIDED THE CAPTAIN WITH IMPROPER TAKEOFF SPEEDS; AND IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE CAPTAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER TRIM SETTING PROVIDED TO THE CAPTAIN BY THE FLIGHT ENGINEER, INADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE PERFORMANCE DATA BY THE FIRST OFFICER, AND THE COMPANY MANAGEMENT'S INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF THE OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

BFR FLT, THE FLT ENG (F/E) HAD CALCULATED 'V' SPDS & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TRIM SETTING FOR TAKEOFF, BUT NEITHER THE CAPT NOR THE 1ST OFFICER (F/O) HAD VERIFIED THEM. DRG ROTATION FOR TAKEOFF, THE CAPT NOTED THAT THE FORCED NEEDED TO PULL THE YOKE AFT WAS GREATER THAN NML & THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT FLY (AT THAT SPD). SUBSEQUENTLY, HE ABORTED THE ATMTD TAKEOFF. REALIZING THE ACFT WOULD NOT STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY, HE ELECTED TO STEER IT TO THE RGT TO AVOID HITTING TFC ON A HWY NR THE DEP END. THE ACFT STRUCK ILS EQUIP; THE LNDG GEAR COLLAPSED & ALL 4 ENGS TORE AWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. INV REVEALED THE F/E HAD IMPROPERLY COMPUTED THE TAKEOFF DATA. HE HAD CALCULATED THE 'V' SPDS & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TRIM SETTING FOR 242,000 LBS; HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL TAKEOFF WT WAS 342,000 LBS. ROTATION SPD (VR) FOR THIS WT WAS 28 KTS ABV THE SPD THAT WAS USED. INV REVEALED SHORTCOMINGS IN THE OPERATOR'S FLIGHTCREW TRAINING PROGRAM & QUESTIONABLE SCHEDULING OF QUALIFIED (BUT MARGINALLY EXPERIENCED) CREW MEMBERS FOR THE ACDNT FLT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.