# NTSB FTW83IA193: Douglas DC-8-63F, N773FT, Dfw Airport, TX, April 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1983, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Dfw Airport, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB coordinates: 36.370666, -94.580528 (estimated), outside the stated state
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83IA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20777/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83IA193

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - throttle/power control - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN SAID HE WAS ASKED TO EXPEDITE THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ON SHORT FINAL SO HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLES TO PARTIAL POWER TO MAKE A ROLLING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT'S NOSE WHEEL CROSSED THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAPTAIN CORRECTED BACK WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING TO THE LEFT. AS THE NOSEWHEEL REACHED THE CENTER LINE HE TRIED TO TURN THE NOSE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT BUT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND AND THE NOSE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT'S SPEED WAS INCREASING AND THE POWER WAS STILL SET. THE CAPTAIN PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. HE THEN ORDERED THE FIRST OFFICER TO REDUCE POWER. THE CAPTAIN THEN APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT LEFT THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS FERRIED FOR AN INSPECTION THE CO-PILOT OF THAT FLIGHT STATED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING, BRAKES AND THRUSTREVERSERS ALL OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N773FT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-63F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45966
- Engines: P&W JT3D-7 19000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Flying Tigerline Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dfw Airport, runway 17L, 11,387 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; 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: 2,582 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

## 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 19830416020069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830416020069I), Apr 16, 1983: Doug DC8*, Dallas, TX, Minor damage. Rolling takeoff with left turn. Pilot unable to turn nose gear. Ran off runway. Indicates pilot error.

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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