Narrative:
The Pan American Boeing 747 struck the Approach Light Structure (ALS) at the departure end of runway 01R while taking off from the San Francisco International Airport. Two passengers, in seats 47G and 48G, were seriously injured by parts of the Approach Light System structure which penetrated the
passenger compartment. The flightcrew continued the takeoff and then flew the aircraft for 1 hour and 42 minutes while assessing the structural damage and dumping fuel before landing on runway 28L. After landing, the aircraft veered off the right side of runway 28L and came to a stop in the unpaved area approximately 5,300 feet from the approach end of the runway. The passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft using the emergency evacuation slides.
Upon activation of the slides for evacuation, four of the 10 passenger slides failed to function properly and were not useable. During the evacuation the aircraft tilted slowly back onto the rear section of the fuselage.
The aircraft had been dispatched for a departure from a closed runway and, upon changing to an open runway, the crew did not recompute the proper reference speeds for takeoff under the existing conditions.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilots use of incorrect takeoff
reference speeds. This resulted from a series of irregularities involving: (1) the collection and dissemination of airport information; (2) aircraft dispatching; and (3) crew management and discipline; which collectively rendered ineffective the air carriers operational control system."
Forced landing on runway
accident date: 30-07-1971
type: Boeing 747-121
registration: N747PA
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 30 July 1971 |
| Time: | 15:29 |
| Type: |  Boeing 747-121 |
| Operator: | Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) |
| Registration: | N747PA |
| MSN: | 19639/2 |
| First flight: | 1969-04-11 (2 years 4 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2898 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 19 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 199 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 218 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO), United States of America |
| Tokyo (unknown airport), Japan | |
| Flightnumber: | PA845 |
The Pan American Boeing 747 struck the Approach Light Structure (ALS) at the departure end of runway 01R while taking off from the San Francisco International Airport. Two passengers, in seats 47G and 48G, were seriously injured by parts of the Approach Light System structure which penetrated the
passenger compartment. The flightcrew continued the takeoff and then flew the aircraft for 1 hour and 42 minutes while assessing the structural damage and dumping fuel before landing on runway 28L. After landing, the aircraft veered off the right side of runway 28L and came to a stop in the unpaved area approximately 5,300 feet from the approach end of the runway. The passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft using the emergency evacuation slides.
Upon activation of the slides for evacuation, four of the 10 passenger slides failed to function properly and were not useable. During the evacuation the aircraft tilted slowly back onto the rear section of the fuselage.
The aircraft had been dispatched for a departure from a closed runway and, upon changing to an open runway, the crew did not recompute the proper reference speeds for takeoff under the existing conditions.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilots use of incorrect takeoff
reference speeds. This resulted from a series of irregularities involving: (1) the collection and dissemination of airport information; (2) aircraft dispatching; and (3) crew management and discipline; which collectively rendered ineffective the air carriers operational control system."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Collision with approach or runway lightsForced landing on runway
Sources:
» NTSB AAR-72-17Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 9 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 30-07-1971
type: Boeing 747-121
registration: N747PA
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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