# NTSB DCA96RA020: Boeing B757, N651AA, Buga, Colombia, December 21, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: December 20, 1995, 21:38 local (Dec 21, 1995, 02:38 UTC)
- Place: Buga, Colombia
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 160 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Lead agency: Other
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA96RA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11014/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=11014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA96RA020

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N651AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N651AA-1996-06-19), registration cancelled 1996-06-19, S/N 24609 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing B757
- Registry model: [Boeing 757-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-223) (registry code 1384957) (OpenAirDocs)
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Amr Corporation

## 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 19951220049219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951220049219A), Dec 20, 1995: Boeing 757223, Buga, CP, Destroyed. (-16) Improper approach procedures.

## Docket (53 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=11014. 123 MB in all.

- Operations 2A-factual report of group chairman (item 1, PDF, 46 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%202A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Operations 2B-factual report of group chairman-attachments (item 2, PDF, 105 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463341&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%202B-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Attachments-Rel.pdf
- Operations 2C-human performance group field notes may 6-7 1996-seattle (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463344&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%202C-Human%20Performance%20Group%20Field%20Notes%20May%206-7%201996-Seattle-Rel.pdf
- Operations 2D-addendum 1 includes transcripts of group interviews (item 4, PDF, 584 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%202D-Addendum%201%20includes%20transcripts%20of%20Group%20Interviews-Master-Rel.pdf
- ATC 3A-factual report of group chairman (item 5, PDF, 14 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATC%203A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- ATC 3B-attachment a (item 6, PDF, 83 pages, 12.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATC%203B-Attachment%20A-Rel.pdf
- ATC 3B-attachment b (item 7, PDF, 45 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATC%203B-Attachment%20B-Rel.pdf
- Structures 7A-factual report of group chairman (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463356&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Structures%207A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Structures 7A-photo 1 initial impact area along east face of mountain ridge noted by brackets (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Structures%207A-Photo%201%20%20Initial%20impact%20area%20along%20east%20face%20of%20mountain%20ridge%20noted%20by%20brackets-Master-Rel.pdf
- Structures 7A-photo 2 initial impact area along east face of mountain ridge (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375304&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Structures%207A-Photo%202%20%20Initial%20impact%20area%20along%20east%20face%20of%20mountain%20ridge-Master-Rel.pdf
- Structures 7A-photo 3 initial impact area as viewed from ridgeline (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Structures%207A-Photo%203%20%20Initial%20impact%20area%20as%20viewed%20from%20ridgeline-Master-Rel.pdf
- Structures 7A-photo 4 composite photo of main wreckage area (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Structures%207A-Photo%204%20%20Composite%20photo%20of%20main%20wreckage%20area-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9A-factual report of group chairman (item 13, PDF, 5 pages, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-attachment a-technical (item 14, PDF, 3 pages, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14369817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Attachment%20A-Technical-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-attachment b-photos 1 thru 18 (item 15, PDF, 1 page, 4 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Attachment%20B-Photos%201%20thru%2018-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 1-wreckage on the eastern side of the ridge as seen from the air (item 16, PDF, 1 page, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%201-Wreckage%20on%20the%20eastern%20side%20of%20the%20ridge%20as%20seen%20from%20the%20air-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 2-wreckage on the eastern side of the ridge as seen from the air (item 17, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374982&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%202-Wreckage%20on%20the%20eastern%20side%20of%20the%20ridge%20as%20seen%20from%20the%20air-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 3-helicopter landing site at base of mountain the accident side is beyond the upper right corner (item 18, PDF, 1 page, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374713&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%203-Helicopter%20landing%20site%20at%20base%20of%20mountain%20%20The%20accident%20side%20is%20beyond%20the%20upper%20right%20corne-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 4-looking back toward the helicopter landing site to show typical terrain on hill without trees (item 19, PDF, 1 page, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%204-Looking%20back%20toward%20the%20helicopter%20landing%20site%20to%20show%20typical%20terrain%20on%20hill%20without%20trees-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 5-view toward northwest to show width of the valley at buga (item 20, PDF, 1 page, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14369820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%205-View%20toward%20northwest%20to%20show%20width%20of%20the%20valley%20at%20Buga-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 6-TO show typical terrain photograph shows eastern side of ridge with the accident site obscured b (item 21, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%206-To%20show%20typical%20terrain%20photograph%20shows%20eastern%20side%20of%20ridge%20with%20the%20accident%20site%20obscured-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 7-accident wreckage and scene at the bottom of the eastern slope showing forward portions of fusel (item 22, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%207-Accident%20wreckage%20and%20scene%20at%20the%20bottom%20of%20the%20eastern%20slope%20showing%20forward%20portions%20of%20fus-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 7A-separation of forward fuselage sections steepness of how hillside drops is behind workers (item 23, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374985&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%207A-Separation%20of%20forward%20fuselage%20sections%20Steepness%20of%20%20how%20hillside%20drops%20is%20behind%20workers-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 7B-promontory over cockpit wreckage (item 24, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374870&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%207B-Promontory%20over%20cockpit%20wreckage-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 8-accident wreckage at the lower portion of the eastern slope showing stacking of electrical cente (item 25, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374719&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%208-Accident%20wreckage%20at%20the%20lower%20portion%20of%20the%20eastern%20slope%20showing%20stacking%20of%20electrical%20cen-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 9-AFT portion of cockpit center pedestal (item 26, PDF, 1 page, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%209-Aft%20portion%20of%20cockpit%20center%20pedestal-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 10-rdmi found near components unique to the first officer's panel components (item 27, PDF, 1 page, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375086&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2010-RDMI%20found%20near%20components%20unique%20to%20the%20first%20officer%27s%20panel%20components-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 11-brake pressure gauge (item 28, PDF, 1 page, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2011-Brake%20pressure%20gauge-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 12-first officer's airspeed indicator with remains of mechanical checklist to the left (item 29, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374988&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2012-First%20Officer%27s%20airspeed%20indicator%20with%20remains%20of%20mechanical%20checklist%20to%20the%20left-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 13-standby airspeed indicator with needle found at 227 knots needle moved after being picked up (item 30, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374873&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2013-Standby%20airspeed%20indicator%20with%20needle%20found%20at%20227%20knots%20%20Needle%20moved%20after%20being%20picked%20up-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 15-altimeter instrument (item 31, PDF, 1 page, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14375089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2015-Altimeter%20instrument-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 16-overhead panels prior to removal of two to six inches of dirt cover (item 32, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2016-Overhead%20panels%20prior%20to%20removal%20of%20two%20to%20six%20inches%20of%20dirt%20cover-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 17-left side of overhead panel during dirt removal (item 33, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374991&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2017-Left%20side%20of%20overhead%20panel%20during%20dirt%20removal-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photo 18-right side of overhead panel after removal of dirt (item 34, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photo%2018-Right%20side%20of%20overhead%20panel%20after%20removal%20of%20dirt-Master-Rel.pdf
- Photo composote aaaa (item 35, PDF, 1 page, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20%20Composote%20aaaa-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9B-photos 19-30-avionic components (item 36, PDF, 11 pages, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209B-Photos%2019-30-Avionic%20Components-Master-Rel.pdf
- Systems 9C-group notes (item 37, PDF, 13 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Systems%209C-Group%20Notes-Rel.pdf
- Flight data recorder 10A-factual report of group chairman (item 38, PDF, 6 pages, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%2010A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Flight data recorder 10B-attachment I tabular data (item 39, PDF, 23 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14369833&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%2010B-Attachment%20I%20tabular%20data-Master-Rel.pdf
- Flight data recorder 10C-attachment ii data plots (item 40, PDF, 5 pages, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Data%20Recorder%2010C-Attachment%20II%20data%20plots-Master-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records 11A-factual report of group chairman (item 41, PDF, 8 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463368&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%2011A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records 11B-attachment a (item 42, PDF, 123 pages, 30.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463371&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%2011B-Attachment%20A-Rel.pdf
- Cockpit voice recorder 12A-factual report of group chairman (item 43, PDF, 31 pages, 742 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463374&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cockpit%20Voice%20Recorder%2012A-Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report (item 44, PDF, 5 pages, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463377&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Powerplants-factual report sumbitted by colombian government (item 45, PDF, 13 pages, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Powerplants-Factual%20Report%20sumbitted%20by%20Colombian%20Government-Rel.pdf
- Party submission from American airlines (item 46, PDF, 51 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Submission%20from%20American%20Airlines-Rel.pdf
- Party submission from allied pilots association (item 47, PDF, 11 pages, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Submission%20from%20Allied%20Pilots%20Association-Rel.pdf
- Party submission from Boeing commerical airplane company (item 48, PDF, 22 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374853&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Submission%20from%20Boeing%20%20Commerical%20Airplane%20Company-Master-Rel.pdf
- Aeronautica civil colombia-adopted report (item 49, PDF, 105 pages, 20.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aeronautica%20Civil%20Colombia-Adopted%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Transcript of interview of glenn e holmbeck volume i-pages 1-113 (item 50, PDF, 114 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Transcript%20of%20Interview%20of%20Glenn%20E%20Holmbeck%20Volume%20I-Pages%201-113-Rel.pdf
- NTSB operational factors group interviews volume ii-pages 114-346 (item 51, PDF, 233 pages, 9.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463392&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Operational%20Factors%20Group%20Interviews%20Volume%20II-Pages%20114-346-Rel.pdf
- NTSB operational factors group interviews volume iii-pages 347-537 (item 52, PDF, 189 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1463395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Operational%20Factors%20Group%20Interviews%20Volume%20III-Pages%20347-537-Rel.pdf
- NTSB operational factors group interviews volume iv-pages 538-640 (item 53, PDF, 1 page, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14374945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Operational%20Factors%20Group%20Interviews%20Volume%20IV-Pages%20538-640-Master-Rel.pdf

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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