Vliegtuigongeval op 11 SEP 1974 met McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 N8984E - Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Datum:woensdag 11 september 1974
Tijd:07:34
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC93 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Luchtvaartmaatschappij:Eastern Air Lines
Registratie: N8984E
Constructienummer: 47400/443
Bouwjaar: 1969
Aantal vlieguren:16860
Motoren: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B
Bemanning:slachtoffers: 2 / inzittenden: 4
Passagiers:slachtoffers: 70 / inzittenden: 78
Totaal:slachtoffers: 72 / inzittenden: 82
Schade: Vernield
Gevolgen: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Plaats:5,3 km (3.3 mijl) S of Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT) (   Verenigde Staten)
Fase: Nadering (APR)
Soort vlucht:Binnenlandse lijnvlucht
Vliegveld van vertrek:Charleston Municipal Airport, SC (CHS/KCHS), Verenigde Staten
Vliegveld van aankomst:Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT), Verenigde Staten
Vluchtnummer:EA212
Beschrijving:
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212, a Douglas DC-9-31, N8984E, operated as a scheduled passenger flight from Charleston, South Carolina, to Chicago, Illinois, with an en route stop at Charlotte, North Carolina. The flight departed Charleston at 07:00 hours local time with 78 passengers and 4 crew members on board. The first officer was Pilot Flying.
During the descent into Charlotte, until about 2 minutes and 30 seconds prior to the accident, the flightcrew engaged in conversations not pertinent to the operation of the aircraft. These conversations covered a number of subjects, from politics to used cars, and both crewmembers expressed strong views and mild aggravation concerning the subjects discussed.
At 07:32:13, as the flight intercepted the inbound VOR radial for the approach, the flightcrew commenced a discussion of Carowinds Tower, which was located ahead and to the left of the projected flightpath.
This discussion lasted 35 seconds, during which 12 remarks were made concerning the subject. A considerable degree of the flightcrew's attention was directed outside the cockpit during that time. During this period, the aircraft descended through 1,800 feet (1,074 feet above touchdown elevation), the altitude which should have been maintained until it crossed Ross Intersection, the final approach fix (FAF). At the end of the 35-second period, the aircraft was still 1.5 nm short of the FAF.
At 07:32:41, during the latter part of the discussion regarding Carowinds Tower, the terrain warning alert sounded in the cockpit, signifying that the aircraft was 1,000 feet above the ground.
Within seconds after the discussion of Carowinds Tower terminated at 07:32:48, the rate of descent of the aircraft was slowed from about 1,500 feet per minute to less than 300 feet per minute.
At 07:33:24, the aircraft passed over Ross Intersection (the FAF) at an altitude of 1,350 feet (624 feet above field elevation), which is 450 feet below the prescribed crossing altitude.
The captain did not make the required callout at the FAF, which should have included the altitude (above field elevation) and deviation from the Vref speed. Although shortly before crossing the FAF, one of the pilots stated "three ninety four," a reference to the MDA in height above field elevation.
While in the vicinity of Ross Intersection, the first officer asked for 50 degrees of flaps; this request was carried out by the captain. The airspeed at this time was 168 knots, as contrasted with the recommended procedure which calls for the airspeed when passing over the FAF to be in the area of Vref, which in this instance was 122 knots.
At 07:33:36, the captain advised Charlotte Tower that they were by Ross Intersection. The local controller cleared the flight to land on runway 36. The last radio transmission from the flight was the acknowledgement, "Alright," at 07:33:46.
Shortly after passing Ross Intersection, the aircraft passed through an altitude of 500 feet above field elevation, which should have prompted the captain to call out altitude, deviation from Vref speed, and rate of descent. No such callout was made, nor was the required callout made when the plane descended through an altitude 100 feet above the MDA of 394 feet above the field elevation. The descent rate, after passing Ross, increased to 800 feet per minute, where it stabilized until approximately 7 to 8 seconds prior to impact, when it steepened considerably.
According to the CVR, at 0733:52, the captain said, "Yeah, we're all ready," followed shortly thereafter by "All we got to do is find the airport". At 07:33:57, the first officer answered "Yeah". About one-half second later both pilots shouted. The aircraft struck some small trees and then impacted a cornfield about 100 feet below the airport elevation of 748 feet.
The aircraft struck larger trees, broke up, and burst into flames. It was destroyed by the impact and ensuing fire.
The aircraft crashed about 1.75 statute miles from Ross Intersection and about 3.3 statute miles short of the threshold of runway 36.
Eleven passengers and two crewmembers survived the crash and fire. One passenger died 3 days after the crash, one after 6 days and another passenger died 29 days after the accident.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crew's lack of altitude awareness at critical points during the approach due to poor cockpit discipline in that the crew did not follow prescribed procedure."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 254 days (8 months)
Accident number: NTSB/AAR-75-09
Download report: Final report

Bronnen:
» NTSB-AAR-75-9


Foto's

photo of DC-9-31-N8984E
flight profile
 

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 Charleston Municipal Airport, SC en Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC bedraagt 269 km (168 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the 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-9-30

  • 662 built
  • 17e ongeval
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 Verenigde Staten
  • 18e zwaarste ongeval (toen het plaatsvond)
  • 37e zwaarste ongeval (op dit moment)
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