# NTSB DCA84AA024: Lockheed L-188, N5523, Chalkhill, PA, May 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1984, 01:44 local (05:44 UTC)
- Place: Chalkhill, PA
- Location: 39.8485° N, 79.6152° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chalkhill, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8485&lon=-79.6152&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA84AA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA024

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - undetermined (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude indicator - false indication
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON ARPT, THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO FL 220. ACCORDING TO INFO ON THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (VCR), THE CREW EXPERIENCED GYRO PROBLEMS DURING THE CLIMB. THEY SELECTED THE #1 VERTICAL GYRO TO DRIVE BOTH APPROACH HORIZONS (ATTITUDE INDICATORS), SINCE THERE WAS AN INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE #2 VERTICAL GYRO SYS. ABOUT 7 MIN AFTER LEVELING AT FL 220, THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO THE DRYER VOR. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF CONFUSION IN THE COCKPIT WHICH INCLUDED THE STATEMENTS, 'WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE,'  'YOU GOT IT?'  & 'NO.' THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT DESCENDING SPIRAL; THE INDICATED AIRSPEED INCREASED FROM APRX 205 TO 317 KTS; THEN AN IN-FLT BREAKUP OCCURRED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER AN AREA APRX 2 MI LONG BY 1 MI WIDE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE IN-FLT STRUCTURAL FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DUE TO OVERLOAD, THEN A FIRE IGNITED IN THE RIGHT WING AFTER IT HAD FAILED. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN INDEPENDENT STANDBY ATTITUDE INDICATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5523](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5523-1985-05-08), registration cancelled 1985-05-08, S/N 188A1034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED L-188
- Registry model: [Lockheed 188A](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-188a) (registry code 5262602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1034
- Airframe hours: 35668
- Engines: ALLISON 501-D13 3750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Zantop Int'L Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 13, 1984, 0 hours before
- Departed: BALTIMORE, MD
- Destination: YPSILANTI, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,047 total, 7,173 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGW

## 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 19840530038939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840530038939A), May 30, 1984: Lkheed 188ALKHEED, Chalkhill, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unusual attitude, loss of control and airframe failure. Crew unable to analyze component. Failure in gyro system.

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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