# NTSB FTW88FA136: Douglas DC-6A, N33VX, Golden Meadow, LA, July 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1988, 19:24 local (Jul 21, 1988, 00:24 UTC)
- Place: Golden Meadow, LA
- Coordinates: 29.380643, -90.269393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3806&lon=-90.2694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22559
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22559/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA136

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - 3 engines
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER ABT 4.3 HRS ON AN OVERWATER FLT, THE CREW RPRTD THEY HAD 15 MIN OF FUEL REMAINING. SUBSEQUENTLY, 3 OF 4 ENGS LOST PWR FM FUEL EXHAUSTION. DRG AN EMERG LNDG, THE ACFT HIT A LEVEE & WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD. MOST OF THE WRECKAGE CAME TO REST IN A DAINAGE CANAL. BODIES OF THE CREW WERE RCVRD FM THE WATER ON 7/22/88. DRG AN INV, NO FUEL WAS FND IN THE FUEL TANKS & NO FUEL SPILL WAS EVIDENT. RECORDS SHOWED THE ACFT HAD DEPD EL SALVADOR WITH 7 HRS OF FUEL. NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF 2.7 HRS OF FUEL WAS VERIFIED; BUT ABT 1 MONTH AFTER THE ACDNT, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE OPERATOR RPRTD FINDING AN OPENDRAIN VLV IN THE WRECKAGE, INSIDE THE #4 ENG NACELLE. A METALLURGICAL EXAM INDCD THE VLV HAD BEEN IN AN OPEN PSN FOR AN EXTDD TIME. NO GND PSNL SAW FUEL DRAINING FM THE ACFT DRG START, TAXI OR TKOF. THE CREW HAD NO CTL OF THE VLV IN FLT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE #1, #2 & #3 ENGS WERE NOT PROVIDING PWR DRG IMPACT. ALL X-FEED VLV CTLS WERE FND IN X-FEED PSNS. ETHANOL WAS FND IN THE PLT'S & COPLT'S BLOOD, BUT THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS THE RESULTED OF POSTMORTEM CHANGES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33VX-1991-06-25), registration cancelled 1991-06-25, S/N 44615 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-6A
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-6a) (registry code 3021706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44615
- Airframe hours: 27978
- Engines: P&W R-2800-CB/3 2200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 129
- Registered owner: Univ. Air Equipment Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 13, 1988, 19 hours before
- Departed: EL SALVADOR, OF
- Destination: NEO, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HUM, 25 nm away

## 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 19880720029169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880720029169A), Jul 20, 1988: Doug DC6A, Golden Meadow, LA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Ran out of fuel short of destination. Hit a levee and broke up in canal. High blood alcohol level in PIC and copilot

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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