# NTSB NYC85IA238: Boeing 747-130, N780T, Jamaica, NY, September 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1985, 17:14 local (21:14 UTC)
- Place: Jamaica, NY
- Coordinates: 40.650848, -73.790748 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6508&lon=-73.7907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 507 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85IA238
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35626/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85IA238

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS MAKING A VISUAL APP TO RWY 31R AT JAMAICA NY WAEN THE BOTTOM OF THE AFT 60 FT OF THE FUSELAGE MADE GROUND CONTACT. THE LEFT OUTFLOW VALVE WAS SCRAPED AND THE REAR DRAIN MAST WAS SEPARATED. PART OF THE APR ACCESS DOOR AND SEVERAL STRINGERS & FORMERS WERE DAMAGED. INTERNAL DAMAGE IS BEING EVALUATED. DAMAGE STARTED AT STATION 2080 & EXTENDED TO THE GEAR PAST STA 2742.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N780T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-130
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19746
- Airframe hours: 48772
- Engines: P&W JT9D 46150 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Transamerica Airlines
- Registered owner: Gatx Leasing Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LSZH, ZURICH, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JFK, Jfk Int'L Airport, runway 31R, 10,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 159 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JFK, 1 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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