Narrative:
A sudden decompression at FL330 caused severe damage to the airframe: 19 stringer fittings were damaged at Station 1800, and the rear bulkhead separated from the fuselage crown. The TriStar crew initiated an emergency descent to FL140 and returned to Los Angeles and landed safely at 22:17 hours. Due to the cost of repairs, Delta Airlines subsequently retired the aircraft. The aircraft was purchased by Lockheed Aircraft for aging aircraft testing. On October 11, 1995, the aircraft was ferried to Dobbins AFB, Marietta, GA.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Inadequate certification/approval of the airframe structure. Contributing was the lack of required inspections of the failure area."
Forced landing on runway
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/96 (#38)
» NTSB id LAX95FA303
» Scramble 198(60)
accident date: 23-08-1995
type: Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1
registration: N781DL
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 23 August 1995 |
| Time: | 20:13 |
| Type: |  Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1 |
| Operator: | Delta Air Lines |
| Registration: | N781DL |
| MSN: | 1003 |
| First flight: | 1971 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 52210 |
| Cycles: | 25813 |
| Engines: | 3 Rolls-Royce RB211-22B |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 226 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 236 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 720km W of Los Angeles, CA, USA ( Pacific Ocean)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America |
| Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | DL157 |
A sudden decompression at FL330 caused severe damage to the airframe: 19 stringer fittings were damaged at Station 1800, and the rear bulkhead separated from the fuselage crown. The TriStar crew initiated an emergency descent to FL140 and returned to Los Angeles and landed safely at 22:17 hours. Due to the cost of repairs, Delta Airlines subsequently retired the aircraft. The aircraft was purchased by Lockheed Aircraft for aging aircraft testing. On October 11, 1995, the aircraft was ferried to Dobbins AFB, Marietta, GA.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Inadequate certification/approval of the airframe structure. Contributing was the lack of required inspections of the failure area."
Classification:
Pressure bulkhead failureForced landing on runway
Sources:
» Air Safety Week 9:37 25 September 1995 (6)» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/96 (#38)
» NTSB id LAX95FA303
» Scramble 198(60)
Photos
accident date: 23-08-1995
type: Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1
registration: N781DL
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 4082 km (2551 miles).
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 4082 km (2551 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.
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