# NTSB FTW72IF046: Boeing 720B, N57206, El Paso, TX, January 21, 1972

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1972
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 100 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72IF046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72IF046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-0024  72/1/21  NR.EL PASO,TEX        BOEING 720B         CR-  0  0  7  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1445                    N57206              PX-  0  0 93                            UNK/NR, UNK/NR TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-NONE         OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        OPERATOR - CONTINENTAL AIR LINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TEX                 LOS ANGELES,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: FLIGHT CONTROL BOOST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GROUNDED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FROZEN, MOISTURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTERFERENCE WITH FLIGHT CONTROLS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- SPILLED COFFEE IN COCKPIT DRIPPED ON YAW DAMPER COUPLER PLUG,CAUSED SHORT.ACFT ENTERED DUTCH ROLL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57206](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57206-1976-07-08), registration cancelled 1976-07-08, S/N 18763 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 720B
- Registry model: [Boeing 720-024B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-720-024b) (registry code 1383845) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: No damage

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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