# NTSB DCA87AA002: Lockheed 382G, N15ST, Kelly Afb, TX, October 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1986, 04:10 local (09:10 UTC)
- Place: Kelly Afb, TX
- Location: 29.3842° N, 98.5811° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KELLY FLD (SKF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3842&lon=-98.5811&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA87AA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15864/pdf
- Board report AAR8704 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8704.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87AA002

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - misc eqpt/furnishings - improper (contributing factor)
  - removal of control/gust lock(s) - inadequate
  - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator control - jammed (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not possible
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

AFTER THE ACFT LANDED AT KELLY AFB, TX, ON 10/2/86, THERE WAS A CREW CHG BFR IT DEPD ON THE NEXT FLT. DRG THE NEXT TAKE-OFF, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF NEAR THE MIDPOINT OF RWY 15 (APRX 5775' FM THE APCH END). WHEN IT WAS AT APRX 100' TO 200' AGL,WITNESSES SAW IT GO INTO AN EXTREMELY NOSE HI ATTITUDE & CLIMB ABOUT ANOTHER 500'. ALSO, THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT & CONTD ROLLING & TURNING LEFT UNTIL IT CRASHED ON THE RAMP IN A NEAR INVERTED ATTITUDE ON A HDG OF ABOUT 070 DEG. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT AN ELEVATOR CONTROL (CTL) BLOCK HAD JAMMED THE 1ST OFFICER'S (FO'S) CTL COLUMN WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF.THE FO OF THE PREVIOUS FLT HAD INSTALLED IT ON THE CTL COLUMN AFTER THAT FLT. THE FO OF THE ACDNT FLT HAD BEEN HIRED 6 DAYS EARLIER & MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THE DEVICE. THE BLOCK WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE ELEVATOR IN A FAIRED OR SLIGHTLY RAISED (TRAILING EDGE UP) POSITION FOR LOADING OPNS, BUT IT WAS NOT AN APPROVED DEVICE. THERE WAS AN UNWRITTEN PRACTICE FOR THE FO TO INSTALL & REMOVE THE DEVICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15ST-1989-01-04), registration cancelled 1989-01-04, S/N 4391 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED 382G
- Registry model: [Lockheed 382G](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-382g) (registry code 526414U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4391
- Airframe hours: 45622
- Engines: ALLISON 501-D22A 4350 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Southern Air Transport
- Registered owner: Transamerica
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 2, 1986, 27 hours before
- Destination: KWRP, WARNER ROBINS, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KSKF, Kelly Afb, runway 15, 11,550 × 300 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3,767 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WSKF

## 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 19861004086469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861004086469A), Oct 4, 1986: Lkheed 382G, San Antonio, TX, Destroyed. The aircraft nosed up after rotation and spun into the ground. A control lock had jammed the yoke back.

## Other investigations on N15ST (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC84IA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84IA091), Feb 24, 1984: Lockheed 382G (N15ST), Groton, CT, incident, minor damage

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.