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NTSB Report
September 10, 1990 · Boeing 727-231 · N74317
New York City, NY
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
September 10, 1990
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 150 uninjured
Location
New York City, NY
Aircraft
Boeing 727-231
Tail Number
N74317
Operator
Trans World Airlines
Injuries
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC90IA219
AFTER LANDING AND DURING TAXI TO THE GATE, THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU TORCHED AND FLAMES CAME OUT NEAR THE RIGHT WING. A PASSENGER SITTING NEAR THE WINDOW SHOUTED FIRE. A PASSENGER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE SITTING NEAR THE OVER WING EMERGENCY EXIT OPENED THE EXIT AND STARTED AN UNWARRANTED EVACUATION WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL MOVING. THE CABIN AND FLIGHT CREW ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE ORDER, BUT MANY OF THE PASSENGERS WERE ALREADY OUT ON THE WING AND OPENING DOORS. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ACTIVATED THE EVACUATION ALARM AND FLIGHT CREW BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP. THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETELY EVACUATED AND TOWED TO THE GATE.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE EXHAUST PIPE FIRE IN THE APU WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNAUTHORIZED EVACUATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PASSENGERS.
Full Narrative
AFTER LANDING AND DURING TAXI TO THE GATE, THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU TORCHED AND FLAMES CAME OUT NEAR THE RIGHT WING. A PASSENGER SITTING NEAR THE WINDOW SHOUTED FIRE. A PASSENGER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE SITTING NEAR THE OVER WING EMERGENCY EXIT OPENED THE EXIT AND STARTED AN UNWARRANTED EVACUATION WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL MOVING. THE CABIN AND FLIGHT CREW ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE ORDER, BUT MANY OF THE PASSENGERS WERE ALREADY OUT ON THE WING AND OPENING DOORS. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ACTIVATED THE EVACUATION ALARM AND FLIGHT CREW BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP. THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETELY EVACUATED AND TOWED TO THE GATE.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time22:32 EDT
Nearest AirportLaguardia (0nm N)
Runway22
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 727-231
Tail NumberN74317
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorTrans World Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-9A-15A · Turbojet · 14500
Seats154
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 150 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured150
Total153
Crew 1Age 53 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO