ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-232 N473DA Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX (DFW)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 31 August 1988
Time:09:01
Type:Silhouette image of generic B722 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 727-232
Operator:Delta Air Lines
Registration: N473DA
MSN: 20750/992
First flight: 1973
Total airframe hrs:43023
Engines: 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 7
Passengers:Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 101
Total:Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 108
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX (DFW) (   United States of America)
Crash site elevation: 185 m (607 feet) amsl
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX (DFW/KDFW), United States of America
Destination airport:Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC), United States of America
Flightnumber:DL1141
Narrative:
Flight DL1141 (Jackson - Dallas - Salt Lake City) left Gate 15 at 08:30 and was instructed to taxi to runway 18L. When first in line for takeoff (at 08:59) the flight was cleared for takeoff. The takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached the rotation phase (at 154 knots, 6017 feet down the runway). As the main gear wheels left the ground, the airplane began to roll violently, causing the right wingtip to contact the runway (1033 feet after lift-off), followed by compressor surges. The plane continued and struck the ILS localizer antenna array 1000 feet past the end of runway 18L. After impacting the antenna installation, the airplane remained airborne for an additional 400 feet, then struck the ground, traversed a ground depression and slid sideways until it came to rest near the airport perimeter fence, 3200 feet from the runway end. Parts of the aircraft had separated in the slide and a fire had erupted in the right wing area, quickly engulfing the rear, right side of the airplane after it came to rest.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "(1) The captain and first officer's inadequate cockpit discipline which resulted in the flight crew's attempt to takeoff without the wing flaps and slats properly configured; and (2) the failure of the takeoff configuration warning system to alert the crew that the airplane was not properly configured for the takeoff.
Contributing to the accident was Delta's slow implementation of necessary modifications to its operating procedures, manuals, checklists, training and crew checking programs which were necessitated by significant changes in the airline following rapid growth and merger.
Also contributing to the accident was the lack of sufficiently aggressive action by the FAA to have known deficiencies corrected by Delta and the lack of sufficient accountability within the FAA's air carrier inspection process." 

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year
Accident number: NTSB/AAR-89-04
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Wrong takeoff configuration (flaps/trim)
Loss of control

Sources:
» NTSB/AAR-89/04


Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 14 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of Boeing-727-232-N473DA
accident date: 31-08-1988
type: Boeing 727-232
registration: N473DA
 

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 Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX to Salt Lake City International Airport, UT as the crow flies is 1579 km (987 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

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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Boeing 727

  • 1832 built
  • 54th loss
  • 40th fatal accident
  • 34th worst accident (at the time)
  • 47th worst accident (currently)
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