Boeing 737-232 N332DL

Summary

On 10 July 2007 at about 21:30 local time, a Boeing 737-232 registered N332DL, operated by Sky King, Inc., was involved in an accident near Tunica, Mississippi, United States. 116 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2007 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tunica, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Tunica Municipal Airport (UTA)

Coordinates

34.6764, -90.3417

Aircraft

Boeing 737-232

Registration

N332DL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Sky King, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tunica → Oklahoma City

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07LA155

1 person died.

Gorund service personal's removal of the portable stairway prior to the main cabin door being secured. Factors were the high winds and heavy rain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The charter flight was preparing for departure for an on-demand air taxi flight. The operator reported that the flight had finished boarding all passengers and the portable airstairs had been pushed back; however, the engines were not running. The mechanic was directed to secure the cabin door to prevent additional rain from soaking the main entrance and galley area as an approaching storm created gusty winds and heavy rains. Passengers seated on row 1 of the main cabin witnessed the mishap. The passengers reported that soon after boarding the airplane a "furious hard blowing rain had started." The forward cabin flight attendant attempted to close the cabin door then moved back to allow the mechanic to close it. The witness added that "suddenly his hand slipped from the door handle, his feet slipped from under him, and he fell out the doorway" onto the ramp. Following the accident, the airline developed and implemented numerous safety enhancements, including revised procedures and training regarding portable airstairs and jet-bridge operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.