- Date
- May 7, 1986, 08:58 local (13:58 UTC)
- Place
- Dallas/Ftw Apt, TX
- Injuries
- 4 minor, 270 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N109AAMcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860507026059I
- Case key
- 21976
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The crew stated that during an attempted start the no. 1 eng failed to gain ignition during the prescribed 25 sec limit and that they aborted the start. Shortly thereafter, grnd pers reported that the eng had developed a tail pipe fire. Following emerg procedures, the fire persisted and the capt ordered the acft evacuated. Four pax received minor injuries. Investigation revealed that the 'b' ign sys was inop and placarded as such and that the 'a' sys was functioning normally. Examination revealed a short in the 'b' sys harness between the exciter and the ing plug. Following replacement of the 'b' harness, both ign sys and the engine performed normally. The tail pipe fire could be lit off following an attempted start on the 'b' sys, with a subsequent second start or switch over to the 'a' sys without purging the eng of the initial start fuel. Either sequence would result in torching.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N109AA
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46509
- Engine
- GE CF6-6D, 39,300 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Destination
- LGA · New York City, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DFW · Dfw Intl. Arpt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 120 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 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.
Other investigations on N109AA · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.