ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F N8079U Sacramento-Mather Airport, CA (MHR)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 16 February 2000
Time:19:51
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC87 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F
Operator:Emery Worldwide
Registration: N8079U
MSN: 45947/341
First flight: 1968-02-29 (32 years)
Total airframe hrs:84447
Cycles:33395
Engines: 4 CFMI CFM56-2C1
Crew:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:2,4 km (1.5 mls) E of Sacramento-Mather Airport, CA (MHR) (   United States of America)
Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Sacramento-Mather Airport, CA (MHR/KMHR), United States of America
Destination airport:Dayton-James Cox Dayton International Airport, OH (DAY/KDAY), United States of America
Flightnumber: 17
Narrative:
Emery Flight 17 had just departed Sacramento-Mather Airport runway 22L when the crew reported balance problems. A little later the aircraft was seen to crash in a left wing low, nose low attitude, into the Insurance Auto Auctions salvage yard, setting fire to 100-200 cars. Debris cut a swath about 250 yards wide and a 600yds long. The plane's cargo included clothing, transmission fluid and a small amount of 9 grams fuses used to activate automobile air bags. The NTSB is focusing on the possibility that a push rod in an elevator control tab may have been separated from the control system of the plane before impact.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "A loss of pitch control resulting from the disconnection of the right elevator control tab. The disconnection was caused by the failure to properly secure and inspect the attachment bolt."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 years and 6 months
Accident number: NTSB AAR-03-02
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Elevator issue
Loss of control

Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 15 Safety Recommendations

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Photos

photo of DC-8-71F-
photo of DC-8-71F-N8079U
accident date: 16-02-2000
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F
registration: N8079U
photo of DC-8-71F-N8079U
accident date: 16-02-2000
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F
registration: N8079U
 

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 Sacramento-Mather Airport, CA to Dayton-James Cox Dayton International Airport, OH as the crow flies is 3153 km (1970 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

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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DC-8

  • 556 built
  • 80th loss
  • 49th fatal accident
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