# NTSB DCA64A0003: Boeing 707, N709PA, Elkton, MD, December 8, 1963

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1963
- Place: Elkton, MD · ELKTON, MD
- Location: 39.6058° N, 75.8217° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkton, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6058&lon=-75.8217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 81 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189690
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA64A0003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA64A0003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0015   63/12/8 NR.ELKTON,MD          BOEING 707          CR-  8  0  0  SCHED INTERNATL PASSG SRV AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2059                    N709PA              PX- 73  0  0                            45, 17049 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2890 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS,INC.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           LIGHTNING STRIKE                                         IN FLIGHT: HOLDING
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: HOLDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - LIGHTNING STRIKE
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: OTHER
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  4400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      44
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- LTNG-INDUCED IGNITION OF FUEL/AIR MIXT,NO.1 RES TANK,WITH EXPLOSIVE DISINTEGRATION OF LT OUTER WG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N709PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N709PA-1967-05-25), registration cancelled 1967-05-25, S/N 17588 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-121](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-121) (registry code 138360C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed

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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