ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 HL7339 Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Friday 23 December 1983
Time:14:06
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC10 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
Operator:Korean Air Lines - KAL
Registration: HL7339
MSN: 46960/237
First flight: 1977
Engines: 3 General Electric CF6-50C
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC) (   United States of America)
Crash site elevation: 46 m (151 feet) amsl
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC/PANC), United States of America
Destination airport:Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America
Flightnumber: 084
Narrative:
While taxiing out in fog, the KAL crew became disoriented and ended up on the wrong runway. During the takeoff run, the aircraft collided head-on with South Central Air Flight 59, a Piper PA-31 which was taking off from runway 06L-24R for a flight to Kenai. The 9 occupants of N35206 were injured. The DC-10 overran the runway by 1434 feet and came to rest 40 feet right of the extended centreline.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot of Korean Air Lines Flight 084 to follow accepted procedures during taxi, which caused him to become disoriented while selecting the runway; the failure of the pilot to use the compass to confirm his position; and the decision of the pilot to take off when he was unsure that the aircraft was positioned on the correct runway. Contributing to the accident was the fog, which reduced visibility to a point that the pilot could not ascertain his position visually and the control tower personnel could not assist the pilot. Also contributing to the accident was a lack of legible taxiway and runway signs at several intersections passed by Flight 084 while it was taxiing."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 230 days (8 months)
Accident number: NTSB/AAR-84-10
Download report: Final report

Classification:

Runway incursion
Landing or takeoff on wrong runway
Ground collision

Sources:
» Location of Commercial Aircraft Accidents/Incidents Relative to Runways / FAA, Office of Safety Oversight (DOT/FAA/AOV 90-1)
» NTSB


Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 5 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of DC-10-30-HL7339
accident date: 23-12-1983
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
registration: HL7339
photo of DC-10-30-N1033F
accident date: 23-12-1983
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
registration: N1033F
 

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 Anchorage International Airport, AK to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 3742 km (2339 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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DC-10

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