# NTSB MIA84LA229: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-51, Key West, FL, July 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1984, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Key West, FL
- Coordinates: 24.550312, -81.779113 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5503&lon=-81.7791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 8 minor, 145 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31175
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31175/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA229

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - passenger briefing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - seat belt sign - continued, pilot in command
  - seat belt - improper use of (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS LEFT ON FOR THE ENTIRE FLT FROM MEXICO CITY TO MIAMI. APRX 50 MI FROM KEY WEST, THE FLT BEGAN A DESCENT FROM FL370. WHILE DESCENDING THRU ABOUT 11,500 FT, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE. AT THAT TIME, THE AIRSPEED WAS 270 KTS & THE ACFT WAS PASSING THRU A CUMULUS CLOUD. ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED A SERIOUS INJURY, 4 PASSENGERS & 4 FLT ATTENDANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLT CREW CONTINUED TO MIAMI INTL ARPT & LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. A WX STUDY REVEALED A LARGE AREA OF LEVEL 2 TO LEVEL 5 THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE ROUTE. THERE WAS A CONVECTIVE SIGMET FOR AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH TOPS TO 45,000 FT. THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE TO WARN THEM OF POSSIBLE TURBULENCE, EXCEPT FOR THE SEAT BELT SIGN. INJURIES OCCURRED WHEN OCCUPANTS WERE THROWN ABOUT THE CABIN OR AGAINST LOOSE SEAT BELTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: XAPIK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-8-51
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45685
- Airframe hours: 61922
- Engines: P&W JT3D-313 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Aeronaves De Mexico (Aomf, doing business as Aero Mexico
- Registered owner: Aeronaves De Mexico
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MEX, MEXICO CITY
- Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at: EWY, 20 nm away

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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