# NTSB LAX82AA259: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N1815U, Morton, WY, July 16, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1982, 12:02 local (18:02 UTC)
- Place: Morton, WY
- Location: 43.2005° N, 108.7746° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morton, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2005&lon=-108.7746&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 7 serious, 19 minor, 142 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 16, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82AA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82AA259

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - mountain wave (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
  - seat belt sign - selected, pilot in command
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (cause)
  - seat belt - not used, flight attendant (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING IN GOOD WX OVER CENTRAL WYOMING, THE CAPTAIN NOTED A GENTLE WAVE MOTION THAT CAUSED THE AUTOTHROTTLES TO REACT. THEREFORE, HE DISENGAGED THE AUTOTHROTTLES AND AUTOPILOT. THE ACFT HAD LOST 250 FT DRG THE WAVE MOTION, SO THE CAPTAIN TURNED ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN & BEGAN A CLIMB BACK TO 39,000 FT. ABOUT 30 SEC LATER (APRX 4 MIN AFT THE INITIAL WAVE ACTION), THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A SHARP JOLT. THE VERT "G" FORCES WENT FROM MINUS .6 TO POSITIVE 1.6 G IN APRX 1.25 SEC. THE AIR WAS SMOOTH AFTER THE JOLT & NO AFCT SYS WAS AFFECTED. A DOCTOR TREATED THE INJURED WHILE THE FLT CONTINUED TO DESTINATION. A WX SUMMARY INDICATED THAT THE ACFT HAD ENCOUNTERED A MOUNTAIN WAVE AND/OR TURBULENCE WINDSHEAR NEAR THE TROPOPAUSE. INDICATIONS NORMALLY USED TO FORECAST WAVES WERE NOT PRESENT UNTIL THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1815U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1815U-2002-06-10), registration cancelled 2002-06-10, S/N 46614, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-10) (registry code 3022110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF6-6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-6-series) (registry code 30020, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46614
- Airframe hours: 28360
- Engines: GE CF6 37500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Departed: BOS, BOSTON, MA
- Destination: SFO, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles

## Other investigations on N1815U (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 SEA76AS021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76AS021), Oct 16, 1975: Douglas DC-10 (N1815U), Seattle, WA, no damage

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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