1970 — Sep 8, Trans International Air 893, Takeoff Crash, JFK Airport, NY — 11
–11 AirDisaster.Com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 09081970.
–11 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Trans International Airlines, 08 Sep 1970
–11 Kimura. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Ed., 1946-1993, V.1. 4-11-1994, p. 2-64.
–11 NTSB. AAR. Trans International Airlines…Ferry Flight 863, , JFK AP, NY, Sep 8, 1970.
Narrative Information
National Transportation Safety Board: “Synopsis A Trans International Airlines Douglas DC-8-63F, N4863T, Ferry Flight 863 crashed during takeoff at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, at 1606, September 8, 1970.
“Approximately 1,500 feet from the initiation of the takeoff roll, the aircraft was observed rotating to an excessively nose-high attitude. The aircraft became airborne about 2,800 feet down the runway after which it continued to rotate slowly upward to an attitude estimated to be between 60° and 90° above the horizontal, at an altitude estimated to be between 300 to 500 feet above the ground. The aircraft rolled about 20° to the right, rolled back to the left until it reached approximately a vertical angle of bank, and then fell to the ground in that attitude. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and post-impact fire. All 11 crewmembers, the only occupants of the aircraft, died in the accident.
“The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of pitch control 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. The restriction to elevator movement, caused by a highly unusual and unknown condition, was not detected by the crew in time to reject the takeoff successfully. However, an apparent lack of crew responsiveness to a highly unusual emergency situation, coupled with the captain’s failure to monitor adequately the takeoff, contributed to the failure to reject the takeoff.
“The Board has recommended to the Federal Aviation Administration that all DC-8 operators be advised of the circumstances of this accident; that takeoffs in DC-8’s should be rejected when premature or unacceptable rotation of the aircraft occurs during takeoff; and that provisions for the detection of jammed elevators and determination of elevator position be provided to DC-8 crews…. The FAA…requested further data regarding the recommendation that takeoffs should be aborted when premature or unwanted rotation was experienced in the DC-8.” (NTSB, 863, 1)
“History of the Flight. Trans International Airlines (TIA) Ferry Flight 863, a Douglas DC-8-63F, was engaged in a ferry flight from J. F. Kennedy International Airport to Dulles International Airport, Washington, D. C., where passengers were to board for a flight from Washington to Gatwick International Airport, London, England….
At 1604, Flight 863 was cleared into takeoff position, with instructions to hold and, at 1604:55, the flight was cleared for an immediate takeoff….
“At 1605:35, when the aircraft was about 2,800 feet down the runway, the aircraft became airborne and, according to pilot-qualified witnesses, rotated slowly to an unusually nose-high attitude. Stall warnings (stick shaker) were recorded on the CVR within 1 to 2 seconds after lift-off and continued until 1605:49. Witnesses stated that the aircraft reached a nose-high attitude estimated to be between 60° and 90° at an altitude of 300 to 500 feet above the ground. The aircraft then rolled about 20° to the right, rolled back to the left until the left wing was approximately perpendicular to the ground, and descended in a left-wing-dawn, nosedown attitude. The aircraft contacted the ground at 1605:52, on its left wing and the nose. The wreckage was immediately engulfed in flames. The crash firefighting crews arrived at the wreckage approximately 30 seconds after the accident, and brought the fire under control in about 5 minutes.” (NTSB, 863, p. 3)
“Aerodrome and Ground Facilities. JFK Airport had been undergoing an expansion and modernization program including the relocation of the outer and inner taxiways and ramp expansion. This work required the removal of old paved surfaces and resulted in taxiway and runway contamination.
“Introduction of the new large jet aircraft with more than twice the thrust of previous jet (transport) aircraft, caused considerable erosion along most taxiways and runways. According to New York Port Authority personnel, the products of this erosion, pieces of asphaltic material, rocks, etc., were being blown onto taxiways, ramps, and runways, making it difficult to keep these areas clean.” (NTSB, 863, p. 6)
Sources
AirDisaster.Com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 09081970. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=09081970®=N4863T&airline=Trans+International+Airlines
Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Trans International Airlines, 08 Sep 1970. Accessed 3/3/2009 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700908-1
Kimura, Chris Y. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Edition, 1946-1993, Volume 1: Jet and Turboprop Aircrafts. Livermore, CA: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Risk Assessment and Nuclear Engineering Group. 4-11-1994.
National Transportation Safety Board. Aircraft Accident Report. Trans International Airlines Corp. Ferry Flight 863, Douglas DC-8-63F, N4863T, J.F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, September 8, 1970 (File No. 1-0011; NTSB-AAR-71-12). Washington, DC: August 18, 1971, 35 pages. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR71-12.pdf