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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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April 9, 1987 · Lockheed L-382G · N517SJ

Travis Afb, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 9, 1987
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Travis Afb, CA
Aircraft
Lockheed L-382G
Tail Number
N517SJ
Operator
Southern Air Transport
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA87MA024

CRASHED IN STEEP LEFT TURN DRG GO-AROUND AFTER BALKED LANDING. INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROLS AND INITIATED GO-AROUND AFTER STUDENT LNDD IN IMPROPER ATTITUDE. ENGINES NUMBER 1 & 2 FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THROTTLES ADVANCED. BOTH ENGINES DECELERATED. AIRSPEED DECREASED DURING GO-AROUND. FLAPS WERE RETRACTED CAUSING REDUCTION IN HYD PRESSURE. INSTRUCTOR UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VMC SPEED, LOST CONTROL. ACFT DESTROYED BY POSTCRASH FIRE. AIRFIELD PERIMETER FENCE DMGD. TEARDOWN AND TESTING REVEALED HEAVY ACCUMULATION OF OIL/TAR RESIDUES ON BLEED VALVES AND THROUGHOUT ENGINES NUMBER 1 & 2 COMPRESSORS, LIMITING ABILITY OF ENGINES TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. HISTORY OF RECENT ENGINE AND PROPELLER OIL LEAKS. NO RECORD OF ENGINE WASHES AFTER LEAKS, ALTHOUGH REQUIRED BY MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE SUMMARY REPORT NTSB/AAR-88/03/SUM.

Full Narrative

CRASHED IN STEEP LEFT TURN DRG GO-AROUND AFTER BALKED LANDING. INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROLS AND INITIATED GO-AROUND AFTER STUDENT LNDD IN IMPROPER ATTITUDE. ENGINES NUMBER 1 & 2 FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THROTTLES ADVANCED. BOTH ENGINES DECELERATED. AIRSPEED DECREASED DURING GO-AROUND. FLAPS WERE RETRACTED CAUSING REDUCTION IN HYD PRESSURE. INSTRUCTOR UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VMC SPEED, LOST CONTROL. ACFT DESTROYED BY POSTCRASH FIRE. AIRFIELD PERIMETER FENCE DMGD. TEARDOWN AND TESTING REVEALED HEAVY ACCUMULATION OF OIL/TAR RESIDUES ON BLEED VALVES AND THROUGHOUT ENGINES NUMBER 1 & 2 COMPRESSORS, LIMITING ABILITY OF ENGINES TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. HISTORY OF RECENT ENGINE AND PROPELLER OIL LEAKS. NO RECORD OF ENGINE WASHES AFTER LEAKS, ALTHOUGH REQUIRED BY MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE SUMMARY REPORT NTSB/AAR-88/03/SUM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:32 PDT
Nearest AirportTravis Afb (0nm N)
Runway21L
Runway Length10995 ft
Runway Width300 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed L-382G
Tail NumberN517SJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSouthern Air Transport
Operating RulePart 91
Engines4
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAllison · 501-D22A · Turboprop
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data