Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 8 September 1970
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF
Owner/operator: Trans International Airlines
Registration Number: N4863T
Location: New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: Leading edge of the right elevator, right horizontal spar web access door, aft stabilizerLeading edge of the right elevator, right horizontal spar web access door, aft stabilizer
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A DC-8 freighter experienced a catastrophic loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a crash. The aircraft rotated in a nose-high attitude, rolled to the left, and subsequently crashed due to entrapment of an asphalt-covered object between the leading edge of the right elevator and the right horizontal spar web access door in the aft part of the stabilizer. The pilot?s failure to abort the takeoff and inadequate flight control surface operation contributed to the incident.A DC-8 freighter experienced a catastrophic loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a crash. The aircraft rotated in a nose-high attitude, rolled to the left, and subsequently crashed due to entrapment of an asphalt-covered object between the leading edge of the right elevator and the right horizontal spar web access door in the aft part of the stabilizer. The pilot?s failure to abort the takeoff and inadequate flight control surface operation contributed to the incident.

Description

The DC-8 freighter started rotating in a nose-high attitude 1500 feet into the takeoff. After becoming airborne at 2800 feet down the runway, the aircraft climbed to about 300-500 feet, rolled 20 degrees to the left, crashed and caught fire. The loss of pitch control was caused by the entrapment of a pointed, asphalt-covered object between the leading edge of the right elevator and the right horizontal spar web access door in the aft part of the stabilizer. PROBABLE CAUSE: pilot in command – failed to abort takeoff airframe – flight control surfaces: elevator assembly,attachments miscellaneous acts,conditions – jammed miscellaneous acts,conditions – interference with flight controls miscellaneous – foreign material affecting normal operations FACTORS: pilot in command – inadequate supervision of flight miscellaneous acts,conditions – checklist-failed to use

Primary Cause

Pilot in command – failed to abort takeoff airframePilot in command – failed to abort takeoff airframe

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