# NTSB DCA79AA016: Boeing 727-31, N840TW, Saginaw, MI, April 4, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1979
- Place: Saginaw, MI · SAGINAW, MI
- Location: 43.4177° N, 83.9547° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Saginaw, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4177&lon=-83.9547&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 8 minor, 81 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1980
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79498
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA79AA016
- Board report AAR8108 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8108.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA79AA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0022   79/4/4  NR.SAGINAW,MI         BOEING 727-31       CR-  0  0  7  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2148                    N840TW              PX-  0  0 82                            44, 15710 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2597 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - TRANS WORLD AIRLINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          JAMAICA,NY                  MINEAPLS-ST PAUL,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNCONTROLLED ALTITUDE DEVIATIONS                         IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: SPOILERS AND SLOTS-LEADING EDGE FLAPS,SPEED BRAKES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ASYMETRICAL FLAPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM
        REMARKS- LE SLATS EXTENDED.NR7 SLAT DID NOT SUBSEQUENTLY FULLY RETRACT,RESULTING IN ASYMMETRICAL SLATS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N840TW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-31
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Detroit Metro

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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