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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 20, 1988 · De Havilland DHC-6-200 · N7267

Chantilly, VA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 20, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Chantilly, VA
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6-200
Tail Number
N7267
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO88FA067

This was the first flight after a maintenance inspection. The flaps were left full down after a post-inspection by company mechanics, before the flight. Witnesses stated the flaps were down when the aircraft taxied to takeoff on RWY 19L. Witnesses stated the aircraft climbed steeply after it lifted off with a pitch attitude up to 60 degrees. According to witnesses, the aircraft climbed to 200 to 500 ft AGL, before it stalled and descended nose down in a left turn. The aircraft crashed about 300 ft left of and 2000 ft down the runway. Examination of the aircraft revealed the flaps were full down. The scroll type checklist was positioned at the beginning of the takeoff check. The flight manual recommends a 10 degree flap setting for takeoff and prohibits flap full down takeoff. Review of previous DHC-6 accidents involving flap full down resulted in a steep takeoff climb and excessive pitch attitude followed by a stall. The position of the control lock suggests it may have been in the locked position during the takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY MISUSED THE FLAPS, BY FAILING TO SET THE FLAPS TO THE PROPER SETTING. THE FLAPS WERE SET FULL DOWN. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH UP STEEPLY AFTER LIFTOFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE FLIGHT CONTROL LOCK WAS PROBABLY INSTALLED DURING SOME PORTION, IF NOT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT, WHICH PREVENTED FLIGHT CONTROL OPERATION. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S INATTENTION AND HIS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY USE THE CHECKLIST.

Full Narrative

THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. THE FLAPS WERE LEFT FULL DOWN AFTER A POST-INSPECTION BY COMPANY MECHANICS, BEFORE THE FLIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THE FLAPS WERE DOWN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED TO TAKEOFF ON RWY 19L. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED STEEPLY AFTER IT LIFTED OFF WITH A PITCH ATTITUDE UP TO 60 DEGREES. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 200 TO 500 FT AGL, BEFORE IT STALLED AND DESCENDED NOSE DOWN IN A LEFT TURN. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 300 FT LEFT OF AND 2000 FT DOWN THE RWY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE FLAPS WERE FULL DOWN. THE SCROLL TYPE CHECKLIST WAS POSITIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF CHECK. THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDS A 10 DEGREE FLAP SETTING FOR TAKEOFF AND PROHIBITS FLAP FULL DOWN TAKEOFF. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS DHC-6 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FLAP FULL DOWN RESULTED IN A STEEP TAKEOFF CLIMB AND EXCESSIVE PITCH ATTITUDE FOLLOWED BY A STALL. THE POSITION OF THE CONTROL LOCK SUGGESTS IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE LOCKED POSITION DRG THE TKOF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:08 EDT
Nearest AirportDulles Int'L (0nm N)
Runway19L
Runway Length11500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-6-200
Tail NumberN7267
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT-6A-20A · Turboprop · 579
Seats21

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 10 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3400 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data