# NTSB DCA83AA014: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54F, N8053U, Detroit, MI, January 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1983, 02:52 local (07:52 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.219707, -83.350448 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2197&lon=-83.3504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15777/pdf
- Board report AAR8307 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8307.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA014

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, flight engineer (cause)
  - elevator trim - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - elevator trim - not corrected, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - elevator trim - not corrected, flight engineer (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS NORMAL, & THE ACFT ROTATED TO A TAKEOFF ATTITUDE ABOUT 1/2 TO 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT'S PITCH ATTITUDE STEEPENED & THE PLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 1000 FT AGL. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT, CRASHED, & BURNED. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS FOUND AT 7.5 UNITS ACFT NOSE UP (ANU). ABOUT 65 SECS BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE 1ST OFFICER & 2ND OFFICER CHANGED DUTY POSITIONS. THE BOARD FOUND THAT THE FLTCREW FAILED TO FOLLOW PROCEDURAL CHECKLIST REQUIREMENTS & TO DETECT & CORRECT A MISTRIMMED STABILIZER BEFORE THE ACFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CAPTAIN HAD ALLOWED THE 2ND OFFICER TO OCCUPY THE 1ST OFFICER'S SEAT. THE 2ND OFFICER HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN UPGRADE TRAINING TO BECOME A 1ST OFFICER, BUT WAS UNABLE EVEN WITH EXTENDED TRAINING & HAD VOLUNTEERED TO FOREGO FURTHER BIDDING FOR THE POSITION OF 1ST OFFICER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8053U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46010
- Airframe hours: 31902
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro, runway 21R, 10,501 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,102 total, 2,711 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Observed at: DTW, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830111004919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830111004919A), Jan 11, 1983: Doug DC8F54, Detroit, MI, Destroyed. Aircraft pulled up into steep climb and stalled and crashed immediately after takeoff. Indication trim not set.

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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