# NTSB LAX83LA262: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N68043, Yuma, AZ, June 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1983, 21:00 local (Jun 5, 1983, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Yuma, AZ
- Location: 32.7253° N, 114.6244° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Yuma, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7253&lon=-114.6244&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 240 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23734
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23734/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA262

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, cruise - normal
  - flt control syst,elevator control - false indication (cause)
  - maintenance,aaip/progressive program - inadequate, production/design personnel (cause)
  - flt control syst,elevator control - deteriorated (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A PITCH EXCURSION UP THEN DOWN WHILE IN AUTOPILOT ON OPERATION. A CRACKED STRAIN GAGE BRIDGE WIRE WAS FOUND IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68043](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68043-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 46902, 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: 46902
- Airframe hours: 38273
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 40000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 31, 1983, 48 hours before
- Departed: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: SAN, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: YUM

## 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 19830604071389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830604071389I), Jun 4, 1983: Doug DC1010, Yuma, AZ. Rapid nose down pitch followed by a pitch up. Autopilot disengaged. Had an autopilot malfunction. Cause undetermined.

## Other investigations on N68043 (2)

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 LAX98FA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA169), May 21, 1998: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 (N68043), Los Angeles, CA, no damage. Probable cause: The contaminated strain gage, which resulted in shorting of the strain gage's terminal lugs which lead to excessive autopilot initiated elevator movement, and excessive elevator actuation during…
- [NTSB LAX87MA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87MA044), Nov 7, 1986: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 (N68043), Los Angeles, CA, 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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