# NTSB DCA85AA004: Embraer EMB-110P1, N96PB, Jacksonville, FL, December 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1984, 18:14 local (23:14 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Location: 30.5053° N, 81.6773° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from JACKSONVILLE INTL (JAX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5053&lon=-81.6773&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 13 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15824
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15824/pdf
- Board report AAR8604 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8604.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA004

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight control system - undetermined (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator control - failure,total (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Embraer EMB-110P1
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC110365
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 34; 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

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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