DCA85AA004

NTSB accident investigation · Embraer EMB-110P1 · Jacksonville, FL · December 6, 1984

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
December 6, 1984, 18:14 local (23:14 UTC)
Place
Jacksonville, FL
Injuries
13 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N96PBEmbraer EMB-110P1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed
Report
Board-adopted at Board Meeting
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Safety recommendations
Yes
Case key
15824

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionTakeoff - initial climb
Flight control system - undeterminedCause
Flt control syst,elevator control - failure,totalCause
Horizontal stabilizer attachment - overload
Horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Provincetown-boston airlines flt 1039, an Embraer EMB-110P1, was cleared to takeoff on rwy 31 at 1812 EST. Drg the initial climb nr the departure end of the rwy, the capt routinely acknowledged an instrn to contact dep control (ctl). Shortly thereafter, the acft entered a steep dscnt & crashed in an inverted, nose dwn attitude, then burned. An investi-gation revealed the elevator (elev) & horizontal stabilizer (stab) had separated in flt. The stab was fnd about 1100 ft fm the main wreckage. The elev trim was fnd in a psn to trim the acft full nose dwn. There was evidence of a malfunctionof the elev ctl sys or elev trim sys, which resulted in a pitch ctl problem; then reaction of the fltcrew to correct the problem overstressed the left elev ctl rod. Also, there was evidence that this resulted in an asymmetrical elev deflection & overstress failure of the stab attachment structure. However, the safety board was unable to determine the precise problem with the pitch ctl sys.

Aircraft

Registration
N96PB
Reported as
Embraer EMB-110P1
Category
Airplane
Serial number
MC110365
Engine
P&W PT6A-34, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Provincetown-Boston Airlines
Registered owner
Provincetown-Boston Airlines
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · November 6, 1984 · 0 hours before
Departed
JAX · Jacksonville, FL
Destination
TPA · Tampa, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
JAX · Jacksonville Int'L, runway 31, 7,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
34
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
10,000 total · 400 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
310° at 8 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
JAX, 1 nm away