# NTSB DCA04IA052: Airbus Industrie A340-311, Washington, DC, June 7, 2004

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 2004, 07:32 local (11:32 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Coordinates: 38.909465, -77.020057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9095&lon=-77.0201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 218 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA04IA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA04IA052

## Probable cause

The incorrect loading of baggage into the aft cargo compartment instead of the forward compartment, which resulted in aft CG light in-flight.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - loading of cargo - incorrect, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

On June 7, 2004, at about 0732 edt, a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-311, G-VFLY, operating as a 14CFR Part 129 scheduled passenger flight from Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) to London Heathrow International Airport (LHR), was mis-loaded at IAD.  The captain noticed an unusually rapid rotation at IAD, but continued the takeoff.  Enroute the crew received two Fuel Excess Aft CG warnings, about 10 minutes apart, 2-1/2 hours into the flight.  The gross weight CG indication was 34.0 and 34.2, respectively.  He transferred all of the "trim tank" fuel forward, isolated the trim tank, and continued to LHR.  Interviews with key ground personnel revealed that approximately seven tons of baggage was loaded in the aft cargo hold (positions 32-42) instead of the forward cargo hold (positions 23-26) as depicted on the load plan.  There were 203 passengers, 12 cabin attendants, 2 flight crew, and 1 additional crewmember on board.  There were no injuries and the airplane was not damaged.

## Factual narrative

On June 7, 2004, about 0732 edt, a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-311, G-VFLY, operating as a 14CFR Part 129 scheduled passenger flight from Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) to London Heathrow International Airport (LHR), was mis-loaded at IAD.  The captain noticed an unusually rapid rotation at IAD, but continued the takeoff.  Enroute the crew received two Fuel Excess Aft CG warnings, about 10 minutes apart, 2-1/2 hours into the flight.  The gross weight CG indication was 34.0 and 34.2, respectively.  He transferred all of the "trim tank" fuel forward, isolated the trim tank, and continued to LHR.  Interviews with key ground personnel revealed that approximately seven tons of baggage was loaded in the aft cargo hold (positions 32-42) instead of the forward cargo hold (positions 23-26) as depicted on the load plan.  There were 203 passengers, 12 cabin attendants, 2 flight crew, and 1 additional crewmember on board.  There were no injuries and the airplane was not damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: G-VFLY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A340-311
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd
- Departed: IAD, Washington, DC
- Destination: LHR, London
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: none
- Co-pilot; injuries: none

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Observed at: IAD

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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