# NTSB DEN89IA067: Boeing 707-323B, N712PC, Salt Lake City, UT, January 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 22, 1989, 09:49 local (16:49 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.80904, -111.940834 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8090&lon=-111.9408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 194 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17615
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89IA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17615/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89IA067

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR SAFE MANEUVERING, RESULTING IN THE NO. 1 ENGINE STRIKING THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE OBSCURED VISIBILITY DUE TO FOG, THE CAPTAIN'S LOSS OF DEPTH PERCEPTION, AND PILOT FATIGUE DUE TO DISRUPTED CIRCADIAN RHYTHM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(circadian rhythm), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT WAS EXECUTING CATEGORY I ILS APCH TO RWY 34L AFTER FLYING FROM HON TO SLC. PLT SAID HE 'CAME OFF GAUGES' AT 300 FT AGL EXPECTING TO SEE RWY BUT DIDN'T. AT 200 FT AGL, HE SAW RWY 150 FT TO LEFT BUT LOST ALL DEPTH PERCEPTION. PLT CONSIDERED EXECUTING MISSED APCH BUT FELT HE COULD ALIGN ACFT WITH RWY WITH ALT REMAINING. WHILE MANEUVERING, NO. 1 ENG STRUCK RWY, LEAVING 50-60 FT LONG, 1-INCH DEEP GOUGE. IN PREVIOUS 30 HR PERIOD, PLT HAD BEEN ON DUTY 18 HRS, 30 MIN, AND HAD FLOWN 13 HRS, 25 MIN. HE HAD BEEN OFF DUTY 11 HRS, 24 MIN, BUT HAD SLEPT ONLY 1 HR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N712PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N712PC-1996-03-01), registration cancelled 1996-03-01, S/N 20176 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707-323B
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-323B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-323b) (registry code 138366C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20176
- Airframe hours: 45804
- Engines: P&W JT3D-38 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Ports Of Call Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 29, 1989, 29 hours before
- Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Destination: SLC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City, runway 34L, 12,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,800 total, 4,390 in this make and model, 9,600 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC

## 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 19890122010139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890122010139I), Jan 22, 1989: Boeing 707323B, Salt Lake City, UT, Minor damage. Overcontrolled aircraft while attempting to align to runway centerline. Scraped NR1 engine.

## Other investigations on N712PC (1)

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 FTW87RA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87RA066), Feb 14, 1987: Boeing 707-323B (N712PC), Durango, Mexico, 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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