# NTSB DCA87MA012: Lockheed L1011, N714DA, Newark, NJ, November 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 13, 1986, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.6925° N, 74.1687° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (EWR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1687&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 137 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA87MA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15870/pdf
- Board report AAR8704S (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8704S.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA012

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wing - failure,partial
  - wing - fatigue (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)

## Analysis

ON NOVEMBER 13, 1986, THE REAR MAIN SPAR OF THE RIGHT WING FAILED AS DELTA FLT 194 TOUCHED DOWN ON RWY 29 AT NEWARK AIRPORT. THE PILOTS STATED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE ON FINAL APPROACH AND INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FIRST. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS FIRM BUT NOT HARD WHICH WAS CONFIRMED FROM THE 1.4G RECORDED ON THE DFDR. THE 1.4G FORCE IS WELL WITHIN THE LANDING GEAR CERTIFICATION LIMITS. THE SPAR WEB FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FATIGUE CRACK THAT ORIGINATED AT A 'HI - LOC' FASTENER HOLE LOCATED AT THE LOWER INBOARD CORNER OF A DOUBLER THAT SURROUNDS THE FUEL FILLER VALVE WHICH IS MOUNTED VERTICALLY ON THE SPAR WEB. THE FATIGUE ZONE IN THE SPAR WEB HAD PROGRESSED ABOUT 6 3/4 INCHES BEFORE THE WEB FAILED AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN. THE FRACTURE IN THE SPAR WEB EXTENDED DIAGNALLY DOWNWARD AND OUTBOARD AT 45 DEGREES FROM INBOARD WING STATION 241.0 TO INBOARD STATION 293.5. THE FLIGHT CREW DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRPLANE MALFUNCTION DURING THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N714DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714DA-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N 193C-1090, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED L1011
- Registry model: [Lockheed L-1011-385-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-l-1011-385-1) (registry code 5265010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211-22 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-22-series) (registry code 54554, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 193C1090
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB-211-22B 42000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines
- Registered owner: Delta Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 26, 1986, 905 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark International, runway 29, 6,502 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 19,850 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 17,275 as pilot in command, 13,725 in the last 90 days, 6,643 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR

## Other investigations on N714DA (2)

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 FTW86IA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86IA020), Oct 26, 1985: Lockheed L-1011-385-1 (N714DA), Dallas/Ft.Worth, TX, incident, no damage
- [NTSB FTW80IA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80IA018), Nov 25, 1979: Lockheed L-1011 (N714DA), Mineral Wells, TX, incident, no damage, 1 fatal

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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