# NTSB DCA85AA010: Lockheed 188C, N5532, Reno, NV, January 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 21, 1985, 01:04 local (09:04 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV
- Location: 39.5296° N, 119.8138° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Reno, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5296&lon=-119.8138&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 70 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA010

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - door - not engaged (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - door - vibration (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - precautionary landing - initiated
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained (cause)
  - remedial action - not attained, copilot/second pilot (cause)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER GALAXY AIRLINES FLT 203 LIFTED OFF FROM RWY 16R, THE COPLT TRANSMITTED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO 'MAKE A LEFT DOWNWIND, WE GOTTA GET BACK ON THE GROUND.'  HE THEN RPRTD THAT THERE WAS A HVY VIBRATION IN THE ACFT. FLT 203 WAS CLEARED AS REQUESTED, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ACFT DSCNDD & CRASHED ABOUT 1-1/2 MI FROM THE RWY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE GROUND HANDLERS HAD FAILED TO PROPERLY CLOSE AN AIR START ACCESS DOOR, WHILE THEY WERE SERVICING THE ACFT, DUE TO A DISRUPTION. INFO FROM THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (CVR) INDICATED THAT AFTER THE DOOR BEGAN VIBRATING, POWER WAS REDUCED IN ALL 4 ENGS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BEGAN BUFFETING & LOST EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE BEFORE POWER WAS RESTORED. WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED, A STORE & 7 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES WERE ALSO DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5532 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED 188C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1121
- Airframe hours: 34148
- Engines: ALLISON 501-D13 turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Galaxy Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Consolidated Carrier Int'L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RNO, Reno Cannon Intl, runway 16R, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,500 total, 5,600 in this make and model, 123 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 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 19850121017109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850121017109A), Jan 21, 1985: Lkheed 188C, Reno, NV, Destroyed, 67 fatal. A service door left open by the ground crew caused buffeting on takeoff. Airspeed and altitude was not maintained.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.