# NTSB DEN85IA065: Boeing 727-224, N79748, Flushing, NY, January 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1985, 11:01 local (16:01 UTC)
- Place: Flushing, NY
- Location: 40.7772° N, 73.8726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAGUARDIA (LGA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7772&lon=-73.8726&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 86 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16581
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85IA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16581/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85IA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - foreign substance covered (contributing factor)
  - airport snow removal - inadequate, airport personnel (cause)
  - meteorological services,atis - inaccurate (contributing factor)
  - updating of recorded weather information - not performed, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - runway (contributing factor)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway remaining dist markers - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT STRUCK A SEAWALL DIKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 13 AT LA GUADIA AIRPORT, FLUSHING, NY. ACFT CONTINUED ON TO DENVER, CO WHERE UNEVENTFUL LANDING WAS MADE. POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED MINOR DAMAGE TO TAILSKID AND NUMBER 2 ENGINE THRUST REVERSER. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED IMCOMPLETE AND INADEQUATE SNOW REMOVAL FROM RUNWAY AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES AVAILABLE DUE TO POOR WEATHER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79748](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79748-2011-05-04), registration cancelled 2011-05-04, S/N 22450, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-224
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-224](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-224) (registry code 1384076) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22450
- Airframe hours: 109922
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 5, 1985, 1,053 hours before
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGA, Laguardia, runway 13, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850117012409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850117012409I), Jan 17, 1985: Boeing 727224, Denver, CO, Minor damage. Tail skid, skid plate separated from assembly. Damage to NR3 thrust reverser from over rotation on takeoff.

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.