Douglas DC-8-51 – N802E – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 30 March 1967

Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-51

Owner/operator: Delta Air Lines

Registration Number: N802E

Location: New Orleans, LA – ÿ United States of America

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6

Component Affected: Flight Controls (specifically the left turn on the final approach and the bank angle)Flight Controls (specifically the left turn on the final approach and the bank angle)

Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB

Category: Accident

On July 16, 2023, a Douglas DC-8-50 aircraft, Flight DL9877, crashed after a loss of control in New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in the deaths of all 6 crew members and 13 persons on the ground. The flight was operated by Delta Air Lines, with the captain-trainee and flight engineer-trainee in the cockpit. The flight departed the ramp at 00:40 with the captain-trainee in the left seat and the check captain in the right seat. The crew advised the tower they were ready for takeoff and would circle and land on one (runway 1). The tower controller then cleared them as requested. The aircraft was observed to make a normal takeoff and departure. Approximately 2:30 PM, the crew reported on base leg for runway 1, and the controller cleared the flight to land. A subsequent discussion revealed that they would execute a simulated two-engine out approach, execute a full stop landing, and then takeoff on runway 19. The tower controller observed Flight 9877 in a shallow left turn on what appeared to be a normal final approach. The degree of bank increased to approximately 60 degrees or greater when the aircraft hit the power lines approximately 2,300 feet short and 1,100 feet west of the runway threshold. The DC-8 crashed into a residential area, destroying several homes and a motel complex.On July 16, 2023, a Douglas DC-8-50 aircraft, Flight DL9877, crashed after a loss of control in New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in the deaths of all 6 crew members and 13 persons on the ground. The flight was operated by Delta Air Lines, with the captain-trainee and flight engineer-trainee in the cockpit. The flight departed the ramp at 00:40 with the captain-trainee in the left seat and the check captain in the right seat. The crew advised the tower they were ready for takeoff and would circle and land on one (runway 1). The tower controller then cleared them as requested. The aircraft was observed to make a normal takeoff and departure. Approximately 2:30 PM, the crew reported on base leg for runway 1, and the controller cleared the flight to land. A subsequent discussion revealed that they would execute a simulated two-engine out approach, execute a full stop landing, and then takeoff on runway 19. The tower controller observed Flight 9877 in a shallow left turn on what appeared to be a normal final approach. The degree of bank increased to approximately 60 degrees or greater when the aircraft hit the power lines approximately 2,300 feet short and 1,100 feet west of the runway threshold. The DC-8 crashed into a residential area, destroying several homes and a motel complex.

Description

Delta Air Lines flight 9877, a Douglas DC-8-50, crashed following a loss of control in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, killing all 6 crew members and 13 persons on the ground. Delta Air Lines DC-8-51 N802E was scheduled as Flight DL9877, to provide crew training for a captain-trainee and a flight engineer-trainee. In addition the flight engineer-instructor was being given a routine proficiency check. At 23:14 a weather briefing was given to the instructor pilot, indicating, “… the only significant weather was a restriction in visibility which was expected to reduce to about two miles in fog and smoke near 0600…”. The flight departed the ramp at 00:40 with the captain-trainee in the left seat and the check captain in the right seat. At 00:43 the crew advised the tower they were ready for takeoff and would “…like to circle and land on one (runway 1).” The tower controller then cleared them as requested. The aircraft was observed to make what appeared to be a normal takeoff and departure. At 00:47 the crew reported on base leg for runway 1, and the controller cleared the flight to land. A subsequent discussion revealed that they would execute a simulated two-engine out approach, execute a full stop landing and then takeoff on runway 19. The tower controller observed Flight 9877 in a shallow left turn on what appeared to be a normal final approach. The degree of bank increased to approximately 60 degrees or greater when the aircraft hit the power lines approximately 2,300 feet short and 1,100 feet west of the runway threshold. The DC-8 crashed into a residential area, destroying several homes and a motel complex. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Improper supervision by the instructor, and the improper use of flight and power controls by both instructor and the Captain-trainee during a simulated two-engine out landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control.”

Primary Cause

Improper supervision by the instructor, and the improper use of flight and power controls by both instructor and the Captain-trainee during a simulated two-engine out landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control.Improper supervision by the instructor, and the improper use of flight and power controls by both instructor and the Captain-trainee during a simulated two-engine out landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control.

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