Accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-53 RP-C803, Monday 18 April 1977

Date:	Monday 18 April 1977
Time:	15:22
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-8-53
Owner/operator:	Philippine Air Lines
Registration:	RP-C803
MSN:	45937/324
Year of manufacture:	1968
Total airframe hrs:	35862 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 140
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) - Japan
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT)
Destination airport:	Manila International Airport (MNL/RPLL)
Investigating agency:	AAIC
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The DC-8 was 1000 m into takeoff, using runway 15L, when it lifted off prematurely. The aircraft banked left, touched down again, veered off the runway and continued 800 m on the sod before coming to rest with the undercarriage and all 4 engines torn off.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Left elevator geared tab drive arm assemblies and elevator gust lock crank assembly had failed.

Accident investigation: