Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 3 November 1988
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-123
Owner/operator: Pan Am
Registration Number: N9674
Location: Bridgetown –
ÿ Barbados
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 212
Component Affected: ElevatorElevator
Category: Accident
A flight encountered a problem when entering the elevator shaft, failing to recognize that the elevator was not present. Simultaneously, another flight on the upper deck entered the elevator and began the elevator descent. The lower flight screamed, and the elevator was stopped, then returned to the upper level. The lower flight suffered a severe skull and spine compression due to a lacerated scalp and compression of the T2 and T5 vertebrae. Operator observations indicated visual cues suggesting the elevator was not present.A flight encountered a problem when entering the elevator shaft, failing to recognize that the elevator was not present. Simultaneously, another flight on the upper deck entered the elevator and began the elevator descent. The lower flight screamed, and the elevator was stopped, then returned to the upper level. The lower flight suffered a severe skull and spine compression due to a lacerated scalp and compression of the T2 and T5 vertebrae. Operator observations indicated visual cues suggesting the elevator was not present.
Description
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE ELEVATOR SHAFT, FAILED TO NOTICE THE ELEVATOR WAS NOT PRESENT AND CLOSED THE ELEVATOR DOOR BEHIND HER. AT THE SAME TIME A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ON THE UPPER DECK ENTERED THE ELEVATOR AND STARTED THE ELEVATOR DOWN. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT BELOW THE ELEVATOR SCREAMED AND THE ELEVATOR WAS STOPPED THEN RETURNED TO THE UPPER LEVEL. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT SUFFERED A LACREATED SCALP AND COMPRESSION OF THE T2 AND T5 VERTEBRAE. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THERE WERE VISUAL CUES PRESENT THAT WOULD INDICATE THE ELEVATOR WAS NOT PRESENT. Probable Cause: THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO NOTICE THAT THE ELEVATOR WAS NOT PRESENT AS SHE ENTERED THE ELEVATOR SHAFT AND PRIOR TO CLOSING THE DOOR.
Primary Cause
Failure to notice the elevator’s non-existence before closing the door.Failure to notice the elevator’s non-existence before closing the door.Share on:
