# NTSB DCA90MA019: Boeing 707-321B, Cove Neck, NY, January 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report
- Date: January 25, 1990, 21:34 local (Jan 26, 1990, 02:34 UTC)
- Place: Cove Neck, NY
- Location: 40.8858° N, 73.4973° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cove Neck, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8858&lon=-73.4973&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 73 fatal, 81 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1993
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- Investigation class: Class 1
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15935
- NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA90MA019.aspx
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15935/pdf
- Board report AAR9104 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9104.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA90MA019

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO ADEQUATELY MANAGE THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL LOAD, AND THEIR FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE AN EMERGENCY FUEL SITUATION TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL BEFORE FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FLIGHTCREW'S FAILURE TO USE AN AIRLINE OPERATIONAL CONTROL DISPATCH SYSTEM TO ASSIST THEM DURING THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT INTO A HIGH-DENSITY AIRPORT IN POOR WEATHER.  ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT BY THE FAA AND THE LACK OF STANDARDIZED UNDERSTANDABLE TERMINOLOGY FOR PILOTS AND CONTROLLERS FOR MINIMUM AND EMERGENCY FUEL STATES.  THE SAFETY BOARD ALSO DETERMINES THAT WINDSHEAR, CREW FATIGUE AND STRESS WERE FACTORS THAT LED TO THE UNSUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE FIRST APPROACH AND THUS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - obscuration
  - updating of recorded weather information - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - information unclear(phraseology), copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - artcc service - inadequate, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor)
  - communications/information/atc - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - performed
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - monitoring - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

ON 1/25/90 AT APRX 2134 EST, AVIANCA AIRLINES FLT 052 (AVA052), A BOEING 707-321B WITH COLOMBIAN REGISTRATION HK-2016, CRASHED IN A WOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA IN COVE NECK, LONG ISLAND, NY.  AVA052 WAS A SCHEDULED INTL PSGR FLT FM BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, TO JOHN F KENNEDY INTL ARPT, NY, WITH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP AT JOSE MARIA CORDOVA ARPT, NEAR MEDELLIN, COLUMBIA.  OF THE 158 PERSONS ABOARD, 73 WERE FATALLY INJURED.  BECAUSE OF POOR WX CONDS IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES, THE FLIGHTCREW WAS PLACED IN HOLDING 3 TIMES BY ATC FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1 HR & 17 MIN.  DRG THE 3RD PERIOD OF HOLDING, THE FLIGHTCREW RPRTD THAT THE ACFT COULD NOT HOLD LONGER THAN 5 MIN, THAT IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, AND THAT IT COULD NOT REACH ITS ALTERNATE ARPT, BOSTON-LOGAN INTL.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FLIGHTCREW EXECUTED A MISSED APCH TO JOHN F KENNEDY INTL ARPT.  WHILE TRYING TO RTRN TO THE ARPT, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER TO ALL 4 ENGS & CRASHED APRX 16 MI FROM THE ARPT.  (SEE NTSB/AAR-91/04 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION)

## Aircraft

- Registration: HK201 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707-321B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19276
- Airframe hours: 61196
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Avianca, doing business as Avianca
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 16, 1989, 361 hours before
- Departed: MEO, MEDELN,COLUMBIA, OF
- Destination: JFK, JAMACIA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JFK, Jfk Intl, runway 22L, 11,351 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,787 total, 1,534 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 20 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JFK, 15 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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