# NTSB DCA74AZ004: Douglas DC-9, N975NE, Boston, MA, July 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 31, 1973
- Place: Boston, MA · BOSTON, MA
- Location: 42.3584° N, 71.0598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boston, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3584&lon=-71.0598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 88 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79664
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA74AZ004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA74AZ004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0011  73/7/31    BOSTON,MASS         DOUGLAS DC-9        CR-  6  0  0  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1008                    N975NE              PX- 82  1  0                            49, 14840 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1457 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LOGAN INTL
        OPERATOR - DELTA AIR LINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURLINGTON,VT               BOSTON,MASS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - NOT ALIGNED WITH RUNWAY/INTENDED LANDING AREA
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      130
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           4                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- UNSTBL ILS APCH,DSCNDD THRU DH.LWRG CIGSEVSBY,SEA FOG.QNBL F/D DSPL.NONSTNDRD ATC SVCS.HIT SEAWALL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N975NE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N975NE-1974-09-05), registration cancelled 1974-09-05, S/N 47075 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Logan Intl

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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