# NTSB MKC82IA042: Boeing 707-131B, N6728, Las Vegas, NV, March 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Fatal · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1982, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Location: 36.0803° N, 115.1524° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HARRY REID INTL (LAS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0803&lon=-115.1524&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC82IA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71378/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82IA042

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing
  - electrical system,electric relay - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,modification - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THERE WAS NO INTENT TO FLY. ON 3-8-82, A BOEING 707-131, OWNED AND OPERATED BY TWA, WAS RECEIVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IN LAS VEGAS, NV. DURING THE CHECK, THE SERVICING VALVE ON THE FORWARD WATER TANK WOULD NOT OPEN. A TWA MECHANIC ENTERED THE FORWARD ELECTRONICS BAY TO CHECK THE VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM WHILE THE LEAD MECHANIC OPERATED THE VALVE FROM OUTSIDE. THE VALVE OPERATED NORMALLY AND THE LEAD MECHANIC YELLED "IT'S OK". A SHORT TIME LATER, ANOTHER MECHANIC LOOKED IN THE COMPARTMENT, DID NOT SEE ANYONE AND SECURED THE HATCH. THE MECHANIC'S ABSENCE WAS NOT NOTED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. ON 3-9-82, THE AIRPLANE FLEW TO ST. LOUIS, MO WHERE THE MECHANICS BODY WAS DISCOVERED AFTER SEARCH WAS INITIATED BY THE LAS VEGAS STATION MANAGER. AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS ELECTROCUTED WHEN HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL 115 VOLT RELAYS IN THE ELECTRONICS COMPARTMENT. INJURIES FOUND DURING AUTOPSY INDICATE THAT THE MECHANIC SLIPPED AND STRUCK HIS HEAD AND FELL ON THE RELAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6728](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6728-1982-10-29), registration cancelled 1982-10-29, S/N 19218 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707-131B
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-131B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-131b) (registry code 138360P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19218
- Engines: P&W JT3D 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Trans World Airlines Inc
- Registered owner: Trans World Airlines Inc
- Departed: LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: ST. LOUIS, MO
- Airport: LAS, Mccarran Internatl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 158 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS

## Other investigations on N6728 (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 MKC81FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA038), Jun 3, 1981: Boeing 707 (N6728), St Louis, MO, 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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