# NTSB NYC91FA086: Douglas DC-8-62, N730PL, Jamaica, NY, March 12, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1991, 09:06 local (14:06 UTC) - Place: Jamaica, NY - Coordinates: 40.649772, -73.789466 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6498&lon=-73.7895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA086 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, IN THAT THE FLIGHT ENGINEER MISCALCULATED (MISJUDGED) THE AIRCRAFT'S GROSS WEIGHT BY 100,000 LBS AND PROVIDED THE CAPTAIN WITH IMPROPER TAKEOFF SPEEDS; AND IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE CAPTAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER TRIM SETTING PROVIDED TO THE CAPTAIN BY THE FLIGHT ENGINEER, INADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE PERFORMANCE DATA BY THE FIRST OFFICER, AND THE COMPANY MANAGEMENT'S INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF THE OPERATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - preflight planning/preparation - improper (cause) - aircraft weight and balance - misjudged, flight engineer (cause) - airspeed(vr) - improper, flight engineer (cause) - trim setting - improper, flight engineer (contributing factor) - supervision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - monitoring - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - airport facility ## Analysis BFR FLT, THE FLT ENG (F/E) HAD CALCULATED 'V' SPDS & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TRIM SETTING FOR TAKEOFF, BUT NEITHER THE CAPT NOR THE 1ST OFFICER (F/O) HAD VERIFIED THEM. DRG ROTATION FOR TAKEOFF, THE CAPT NOTED THAT THE FORCED NEEDED TO PULL THE YOKE AFT WAS GREATER THAN NML & THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT FLY (AT THAT SPD). SUBSEQUENTLY, HE ABORTED THE ATMTD TAKEOFF. REALIZING THE ACFT WOULD NOT STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY, HE ELECTED TO STEER IT TO THE RGT TO AVOID HITTING TFC ON A HWY NR THE DEP END. THE ACFT STRUCK ILS EQUIP; THE LNDG GEAR COLLAPSED & ALL 4 ENGS TORE AWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. INV REVEALED THE F/E HAD IMPROPERLY COMPUTED THE TAKEOFF DATA. HE HAD CALCULATED THE 'V' SPDS & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TRIM SETTING FOR 242,000 LBS; HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL TAKEOFF WT WAS 342,000 LBS. ROTATION SPD (VR) FOR THIS WT WAS 28 KTS ABV THE SPD THAT WAS USED. INV REVEALED SHORTCOMINGS IN THE OPERATOR'S FLIGHTCREW TRAINING PROGRAM & QUESTIONABLE SCHEDULING OF QUALIFIED (BUT MARGINALLY EXPERIENCED) CREW MEMBERS FOR THE ACDNT FLT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N730PL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N730PL-1991-09-25), registration cancelled 1991-09-25, S/N 46161 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-62 - Registry model: [Douglas DC-8-62](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8-62) (registry code 3021970) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46161 - Airframe hours: 50145 - Engines: P&W JT3D-3B 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Air Transport International, doing business as Ati - Registered owner: David M. Clark Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, January 2, 2000 - Destination: BRU, BRUSSELS, BLGM, OF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John L Kennedy Intl, runway 4, 11,351 × 150 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,800 total, 3,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JFK, 1 nm away ## 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 19910312005259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910312005259A), Mar 12, 1991: Doug DC862, New York, NY, Destroyed. Flight engineer incorrectly figured vr speed. Pilot unable rotate. Aborted. Hit ILS off runway avoiding overrun. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.