ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1 N781DL Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 23 August 1995
Time:20:13
Type:Silhouette image of generic L101 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1
Operator:Delta Air Lines
Registration: N781DL
MSN: 1003
First flight: 1971
Total airframe hrs:52210
Cycles:25813
Engines: 3 Rolls-Royce RB211-22B
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 226
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 236
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:720km W of Los Angeles, CA, USA (   Pacific Ocean)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America
Destination airport:Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America
Flightnumber:DL157
Narrative:
A sudden decompression at FL330 caused severe damage to the airframe: 19 stringer fittings were damaged at Station 1800, and the rear bulkhead separated from the fuselage crown. The TriStar crew initiated an emergency descent to FL140 and returned to Los Angeles and landed safely at 22:17 hours. Due to the cost of repairs, Delta Airlines subsequently retired the aircraft. The aircraft was purchased by Lockheed Aircraft for aging aircraft testing. On October 11, 1995, the aircraft was ferried to Dobbins AFB, Marietta, GA.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Inadequate certification/approval of the airframe structure. Contributing was the lack of required inspections of the failure area."

Classification:
Pressure bulkhead failure
Forced landing on runway

Sources:
» Air Safety Week 9:37 25 September 1995 (6)
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/96 (#38)
» NTSB id LAX95FA303
» Scramble 198(60)


Photos

photo of Lockheed-L-1011-TriStar-1-N781DL
accident date: 23-08-1995
type: Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1
registration: N781DL
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 4082 km (2551 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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