# NTSB FTW87FA080: Convair CV-580, N73107, Dallas, TX, March 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1987, 20:45 local (Mar 25, 1987, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Dallas, TX
- Coordinates: 32.919837, -96.989143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9198&lon=-96.9891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 11 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22235
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22235/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA080

## Analysis

METRO FLIGHT AIRLINES CONVAIR CV-580 ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35L AT THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AIRPORT (DFW) WITH CROSSWINDS EXCEEDING DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT VIOLATED COMPANY LIMITATIONS FOR CROSSWINDS IN THE CONVAIR CV-580. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE LEFT WING BECAME AIRBORNE AND RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO ALLOW THE LEFT PROPELLER ASSEMBLY TO CONTACT THE RUNWAY CAUSING SEPARATION OF TWO PROPELLER BLADES AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ONTO SOFT TERRAIN CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A CONNECTING TAXIWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - overload
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, other
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose down, takeoff - roll/run

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73107](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73107-1996-05-09), registration cancelled 1996-05-09, S/N 8 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR CV-580
- Registry model: [Convair 340-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/convair-340-31) (registry code 2422804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8
- Airframe hours: 64429
- Engines: ALLISON 501D13 4500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Metro Flight Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 16, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: DFW, DALLAS, TX
- Destination: GGG, LONGVIEW, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dallas/Ft. Worth, runway 35L, 11,388 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,819 total, 1,127 in this make and model, 158 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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