Accident
Last updated: 19 June 2013
| Status: | Definitief |
| Datum: | 25 FEB 1964 |
| Tijd: | 02:05 CST |
| Type: | Douglas DC-8-21 |
| Luchtvaartmaatschappij: | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registratie: | N8607 |
| Constructienummer: | 45428/61 |
| Bouwjaar: | 1960 |
| Aantal vlieguren: | 11340 |
| Motoren: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT4A-9 |
| Bemanning: | slachtoffers: 7 / inzittenden: 7 |
| Passagiers: | slachtoffers: 51 / inzittenden: 51 |
| Totaal: | slachtoffers: 58 / inzittenden: 58 |
| Schade: | Afgeschreven |
| Gevolgen: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Plaats: | 30,5 km (19.1 mijl) NE van New Orleans International Airport, LA (MSY) (Verenigde Staten)
 |
| Fase: | Kruisvlucht (ENR) |
| Soort vlucht: | Binnenlandse lijnvlucht |
| Vliegveld van vertrek: | New Orleans International Airport, LA (MSY/KMSY), Verenigde Staten |
| Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC (IAD/KIAD), Verenigde Staten | |
| Vluchtnummer: | 304 |
Eastern Air Lines (EAL) Flight 304 originated in Mexico City and had intermediate stops scheduled at New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington prior to the destination of New York City. The DC-8 arrived at Mexico City at 22:12 on February 24, 1964. The captain of the inbound crew reported that "...the only exception to normality was that the PTC (pitch trim compensator) was inoperative, with a fix scheduled for the next morning at Kennedy Airport." An IFR flight plan for New Orleans was filed with a reduced airspeed, in accordance with company procedures for dispatch under these conditions. The airplane landed at New Orleans at 00:51. Takeoff from New Orleans was commenced at 01:59. The airplane appeared to climb normally and the crew contacted the departure contoller who instruced them to contact New Orleans Center. At 02:03:15 the crew replied, "OK", this was the last transmission from the flight. During the climb the elevator moved to 2 degrees AND (airplane nose down), which is an abnormal flight condition. Climbing in clouds through 4,000 feet, the DC-8 encountered moderate and probably severe wind shear turbulence. In order to control the airplane under these conditions, the input of the controls probably introduced pilot induced oscillations (PIO) from which the pilot could not recover. Control was lost and the airplane struck the surface of Lake Pontchartrain at a dive angle in excess of 20-degrees. A possible factor was the attitude indicator, which was small with a solid black background and difficult to interpret
at night. Also, the pitch indication of the attitude indicator was "geared-down" but not indexed as to degrees, making it more difficult to assess the exact attitude of the airplane.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the degradation of aircraft stability characteristics in turbulence, because of abnormal longitudinal trim component positions." (CAB report File No. 1-0006) Bronnen:
» ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No.16, Circular 82-AN/69 (39-60)
Foto's
Kaart
Deze kaart geeft het vliegveld van vetrek weer en de geplande bestemming van de vlucht. De lijn tussen de vliegvelden geeft niet de exacte vliegroute weer.
De afstand tussen New Orleans International Airport, LA en Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC bedraagt 1526 km (954 miles).
De afstand tussen New Orleans International Airport, LA en Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC bedraagt 1526 km (954 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages:
Verenigde Staten
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DC-8
- 8e ongeval
- 556 built
- 5e zwaarste ongeval (toen het plaatsvond)
- 16e zwaarste ongeval (op dit moment)
Verenigde Staten- 13e zwaarste ongeval (toen het plaatsvond)
- 48e zwaarste ongeval (op dit moment)