# NTSB FTW88LA050: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10, N142AA, Dfw Airport, TX, January 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1988, 07:28 local (13:28 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)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 290 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22607/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA050

## Probable cause

UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE IL DOOR, WHICH CAUGHT THE PASSENGER BETWEEN IT AND THE BULKHEAD AS THE DOOR MOVED INWARD AND UPWARD. A SECONDARY CAUSE WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURES REQUIRING THEM TO GUARD ALL ENTRY DOORS DURING THE DEPLANING PROCESS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - procedures/directives - not followed, flight attendant (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE DEPLANING, A PASSENGER (PAX) FROM THE 1ST ROW OF THE CABIN WAS REMOVING CARRY-ON LUGGAGE FROM A COMPARTMENT IN THEFORWARD BULKHEAD, ADJACENT TO THE 1L ENTRY DOOR, AS OTHER PAX WERE EXITING VIA THE 2L DOOR. NONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE MONITORING THE FORWARD (1L) DOOR, WHICH WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMPANY PROCEDURES. UNEXPECTANTLY, A GATE AGENT OPENED THE 1L DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. AS IT MOVED INWARD & UPWARD, THE PAX'S HEAD & LEFT SHOULDER WERE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DOOR & THE FORWARD BULKHEAD, CAUSING HIM TO BE CARRIED UP WITH THE DOOR. HE THEN FELL TO THE CABIN FLOOR AS THE DOOR WENT FULLY OPEN, SUSTAINING A FRACTURED ARM. THE COMPARTMENT WAS NORMALLY USED BY CREW ONLY, BUT WAS UTILIZED IN THIS CASE DUE TO LACK OF OTHER SPACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N142AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142AA-1999-12-29), registration cancelled 1999-12-29, S/N 46714 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-30) (registry code 3023501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46714
- Engines: GE CF6 52500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Destination: DFW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dfw

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 1,820 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880110013839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880110013839I), Jan 10, 1988: Doug DC1030, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX. Passenger was getting luggage, adjacent door was opened inward trapping him against bulkhead hurting arm and head.

## Other investigations on N142AA (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI92IA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92IA061), Dec 23, 1991: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30 (N142AA), Chicago, IL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: THE LOCAL CONTROLLER'S NOT UNDERSTANDING READ BACK OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF FLIGHT 73 NOT UNDERSTANDING VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS; LOCAL CONTROLLER NOT VISUALLY…

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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