# NTSB NYC92IA086: Lockheed L-1011-385, N721DA, Flushing, NY, April 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1992, 14:43 local (18:43 UTC)
- Place: Flushing, NY
- Coordinates: 40.77058, -73.869766 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7706&lon=-73.8698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 308 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92IA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37081/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92IA086

## Probable cause

THE CAPTAIN'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE NOSEWHEEL RATE OF SINK AND SUBSEQUENT OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR TIRES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,tire - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THAT THE TIRES 'BLEW' WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN.  THE 'NORMAL SINK RATE' FOR THE NOSE WHEEL IS APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT PER SECOND.  THE CALCULATED RATE OF SINK FOR FLIGHT 702 WAS 14.66 FEET PER SECOND.  POST INCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE TIRES REVEALED THE FAILURE WAS NOT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM AN OVER OR UNDER INFLATION CONDITION.  IT WAS CONCLUDED BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS 'MOST LIKELY' THE RESULT OF THE EXCESSIVE FORCES APPLIED DURING THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N721DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N721DA-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N 193C-1139, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED L-1011-385
- Registry model: [Lockheed L-1011-385-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-l-1011-385-1) (registry code 5265010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211-22 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-22-series) (registry code 54554, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1139
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB211-524 50000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Delta Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000
- Departed: PBI, PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LGA, Laguardia International, runway 4, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total, 160 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19920423022529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920423022529I), Apr 23, 1992: Lkheed 10113851, New York, NY, Minor damage. Pilot made a hard landing. Fire on nose wheel assembly. Airport closed.

## Other investigations on N721DA (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 ATL89FA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA161), Jun 16, 1989: Lockheed L1011-385-1 (N721DA), Jacks Creek, TN, no damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS FASTENED AS THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED UNFORECAST SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.

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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