# NTSB DCA90MA055: Boeing 707-321B, N320MJ, Marana, AZ, September 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1990, 07:07 local (14:07 UTC)
- Place: Marana, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.450828, -111.290298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4508&lon=-111.2903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA90MA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA90MA055

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO USE A CHECKLIST. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FAA'S INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF THE OPERATION, THE FAA'S INSUFFICIENT STANDARDS/REQUIREMENTS, THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCES, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

## 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
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTD 1ST ATMT TO TKOF WAS ABORTED AFTER ACFT SWERVED LEFT & RGT. ON 2ND TRY, ACFT LIFTED OFF ABT HALFWAY DWN RWY. AFTER LIFT-OFF, IT ROLLED RGT, RGT WING HIT GND & ACFT CRASHED. INV REVEALED RUDDER TRIM WAS 7.9 TO 8.3 UNITS (79% TO 83%) NOSE RGT. SIMULATOR TESTS WITH THAT SETTING RESULTED IN CONSISTENT RGT WING COLLISIONS WITH GND AFTER LIFT-OFF. CREW'S CHECKLIST REFERRED TO MECH CHECKLIST FOR CRITICAL ITEMS TO CHECK BFR TKOF. MECH CHECKLIST & 50 OF 54 FLT INST HAD BEEN REMOVED FM ACFT, LEAVING 2 AIRSPEED INDCRS, ALTIMETER & STBY GYRO HORIZON. IN 60 SIMULATED TKOFS IN THIS CONFIGURATION, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF INSUFFICIENT ATTITUDINAL REF TO RECOGNIZE ROLLING OF ACFT BFR SUFFICIENT ALT WAS ATTAINED. FAA'S DESIGNATED AIRWORTHINESS REP (DAR) HAD INSPD ACFT 3 DAYS BFR & ISSUED FERRY PERMIT. HE LACKED FAA MECH CERT & EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE ACFT. FAA ORDER 8000.62 & AC 183.33 LACKED SPEC GUIDANCE FOR SELECTION, TRNG & OVERSIGHT OF DAR ACTIVITY. ALSO, LACK OF GUIDANCE CONCERNING MIN EQUIP LIST. PLT NOT CURRENT OR MED QUALIFIED TO FLY ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N320MJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N320MJ-1991-07-08), registration cancelled 1991-07-08, S/N 20028 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707-321B
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-321B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-321b) (registry code 138366B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20028
- Airframe hours: 34965
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Omega Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 17, 1990, 0 hours before
- Departed: MZJ, MARANA, AZ
- Destination: DMA, TUCSON, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Pinal Airpark, runway 12, 6,280 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 13,192 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DMA, 32 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 19900920041229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900920041229A), Sep 20, 1990: Boeing 707321B, Marana, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Early lift off right wing hit and cartwheeled. Rudder trim offset, slow speed no gyros calls or check list factors.

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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