# NTSB DFW07LA155: Boeing 737-232, N332DL, Tunica, MS, July 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2007, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Tunica, MS - Coordinates: 34.676387, -90.341667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6764&lon=-90.3417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 115 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66176/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA155 ## Probable cause Gorund service personal's removal of the portable stairway prior to the main cabin door being secured. Factors were the high winds and heavy rain. ## Analysis The charter flight was preparing for departure for an on-demand air taxi flight. The operator reported that the flight had finished boarding all passengers and the portable airstairs had been pushed back; however, the engines were not running. The mechanic was directed to secure the cabin door to prevent additional rain from soaking the main entrance and galley area as an approaching storm created gusty winds and heavy rains. Passengers seated on row 1 of the main cabin witnessed the mishap. The passengers reported that soon after boarding the airplane a "furious hard blowing rain had started." The forward cabin flight attendant attempted to close the cabin door then moved back to allow the mechanic to close it. The witness added that "suddenly his hand slipped from the door handle, his feet slipped from under him, and he fell out the doorway" onto the ramp. Following the accident, the airline developed and implemented numerous safety enhancements, including revised procedures and training regarding portable airstairs and jet-bridge operations. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2007, at 1630 central daylight time, a mechanic fell onto the ramp from the main cabin entrance door of a Boeing 737-232 airplane, N332DL, while attempting to close the door during a thunderstorm. The crew of six, including the mechanic and 110 passengers were on board. The mechanic sustained fatal injuries. No other crewmembers or passengers were injured and the airplane was not damaged. The charter flight was being operated by Sky King, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental domestic flight and was preparing for departure at the Tunica Air Center (KUTA) near Tunica, Mississippi, for an on-demand air taxi flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a scheduled intermediate stop in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The operator reported that the flight had finished boarding all passengers and the portable airstairs had been pushed back; however, the engines were not running. The mechanic was directed to secure the cabin door to prevent additional rain from soaking the main entrance and galley area as an approaching storm created gusty winds and heavy rains. Passengers seated on row 1 of the main cabin witnessed the mishap. The passengers reported that soon after boarding the airplane a "furious hard blowing rain had started." The forward cabin flight attendant attempted to close the cabin door then moved back to allow the mechanic to close it. The witness added that "suddenly his hand slipped from the door handle, his feet slipped from under him, and he fell out the doorway" onto the ramp. Weather reported at KUTA 10 minutes prior to the accident was winds from 180 degrees at 11 knots, visibility of 10 statute miles. Thunderstorm activity with lightning reported in all quadrants, scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, broken clouds at 5,000 and 6,500 feet, temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 22 degrees Celsius, with an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury. At 30 minutes after the accident the weather was reported as winds from 290 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 2 1/2 statue miles, heavy thunderstorms and rain with broken cloud layers at 500 feet and 1,300 feet, overcast skies at 3,200 feet, with lightning in all quadrants, with an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of Mercury. Post-Accident Airline Safety Efforts. Following the accident, Sky King, Inc. developed the following safety enhancements: - The Airline created and published a safety bulletin emphasizing the requirement to have the portable airstairs or Jet-Bridge remain in place until the main cabin door has been secured. - Flight attendant and flight operations manuals were revised as follows: CAUTION: The Main Cabin door (L1) must remain open with the jetway or stairs in place until push-back for normal and emergency egress for passengers and crew. - Emphasis for all crew members during in initial training and recurrent training concerning portable airstairs procedures. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating - door,entrance stair - stowed - condition(s)/step(s) in improper sequence, ground personnel (cause) - external load equipment - removed, ground personnel (cause) - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N332DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N332DL-2009-07-10), registration cancelled 2009-07-10, S/N 23104, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-232 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-232) (registry code 1384475) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-5) (registry code 52046, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23104 - Airframe hours: 52222 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Sky King, Inc., doing business as Sky King, Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 2007 - Departed: UTA, Tunica, MS - Destination: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: UTA, Tunica Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Check pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 26,300 total - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KUTA ## 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 20070710017209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070710017209A), Jul 10, 2007: Boeing 737232, Tunica, MS, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Prior to departure flight mechanic (assisting the flight attendant) fell out of aircraft doorway while closing door. 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.