# NTSB DCA85AA027: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N129AA, San Juan, PR, June 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1985, 11:36 local (15:36 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 29 minor, 238 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA027

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,tire - foreign object (cause)
  - landing gear,tire - leak (cause)
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total (cause)
- Overrun, takeoff
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - approach light/navaid (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, other
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,slides - other
  - emergency equipment - inadvertent deactivation, flight attendant
  - object - tree(s)
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,slides - movement restricted

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING AT SAN JUAN, THE ACFT WAS PARKED AT THE CUSTOMS AREA, THEN WAS TOWED TO GATE 15 & LOADED FOR THE NEXT FLT.THE PUSH-BACK WAS SUCH THAT THE CREW HAD TO TAXI TO THE GEN AVN PARKING AREA & TURN AROUND BFR PROCEEDING TO RWY 8 FOR DEPARTURE. WHEN CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, THE WND WAS FROM 160 DEG AT 11 GUSTING 22 KTS. AT APRX 120 KTS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL,A LOUD RUMBLING SOUND OCCURRED WHICH INCREASED RAPIDLY, THEN THE ACFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE. AT APRX THE V1 SPD OF 141 KTS, THE CAPT REJECTED THE TAKEOFF USING MAX BRAKING. UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY, HE ANGLED THE ACFT TO THE SAFEST AREA. THE FLT ENGR'S BACK WAS INJURED AS THE ACFT HIT THE REIL SYS. THE ACFT STOPPED WITH ITS NOSE IN A LAGOON. DUE TO TREES, WTR, ACFT ATTITUDE & ONE ACCIDENTAL DISARMING, ONLY 4 OF 8 EMERG SLIDES WERE USED. A LAB ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE #7 TIRE HAD FAILED DUE TO LOW INFLATION, MOST LIKELY FROM FOD. DURING THE ABORT, ITS COMPANION TIRE FAILED FROMOVERLOAD. BLACK MARKS ON THE TAXIWAY REVEALED THE #7 TIRE STARTED LOSING PRESSURE WHILE THE ACFT WAS TAXIING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N129AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46996
- Engines: GE CF6 45000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: DFW, DALLAS/FT WORTH, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SJV, Luis Munoz Marin Int'L, runway 8, 10,002 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,000 total, 215 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJV, 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 19850627077899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850627077899A), Jun 27, 1985: Doug DC1010, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage. Noise, vibration on takeoff. Aborted. Unable to stop, hit runway end identifier lights.

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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