# NTSB MIA88FA138: Boeing 727-224, N88703, Sarasota, FL, April 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1988, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Location: 27.3954° N, 82.5544° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SARASOTA/BRADENTON INTL (SRQ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3954&lon=-82.5544&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 144 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA138

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - hydraulic system - selected, flight engineer (contributing factor)
  - flight control,slat - engaged (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - communications - improper, ground personnel (cause)
  - inattentive, ground personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN OF THE BOEING 727 AIRCRAFT WAS AWARE THAT A REFUELER WAS UTILIZING KNOWN QUANTITY REFUELING PROCEDURES DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL GUAGE. HE ALLOWED THE FLIGHT ENGINEER TO ACTIVATE THE B HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND THE GROUND INTERCONNECT SWITCH, WITHOUT POSITIVELY ASSURING THAT GND PERSONNEL WERE CLEAR OF THE LEADING EDGE SLATS.AT THE SAME TIME THE REFUELER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE FUELING SYSTEM. THE REFUELER CLIMBED ON A LADDER TO OPEN A FUEL PANEL WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY. WHEN THE B HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, THE SLATS RETRACTED CRUSHING THE NECK OF THE REFUELER BETWEEN THE WING AND THE TRAILING EDGE OF A SLAT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88703](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88703-2013-10-24), registration cancelled 2013-10-24, S/N 19512, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-224
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-224](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-224) (registry code 1384076) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19512
- Airframe hours: 62206
- Engines: P&W JT8D turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SRQ, Sarasota-Bradenton

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,077 total, 2,448 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ

## 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 19880403009869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880403009869A), Apr 3, 1988: Boeing 727224, Sarasota - Brad, FL. Ground refueler became caught in slat as plane powered up. Captain was told all clear but did not use proper actions

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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