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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 25, 1987 · Lockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385 · N720DA

Atlanta, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (147 uninjured)
Location
Atlanta, GA
Aircraft
Lockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385
Tail Number
N720DA
Operator
Delta Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL87FA240

THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN MANUALLY FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 8L AT ATLANTA. THE APCH WAS ALLOWED TO BECOME UNSTABLE AT ABOUT THE MIDDLE MARKER AND THE VERTICAL SPEED WAS INCREASED TO ABOUT 1290 FEET PER MINUTE ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE IOE CAPT IN THE LEFT SEAT WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY CK AMN THAT HE NEEDED TO GET HIS NOSE UP. AS THE IOE CAPT INITIATED FLARE, THE CK AMN ALSO APPLIED NOSE UP CONTROL INPUTS. THE ACFT MADE THREE TOUCHDOWNS AND THE AFT FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE RWY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE IOE CAPT HAD COMPLETED HIS FIRST CLASS PHYSICAL EXAM FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND UNDERWENT BYPASS SURGERY 17 DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, HE INDICATED THAT 3-4 YEARS EARLIER HE HAD EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH WHICH HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A HIATAL HERNIA. THE SAME SYMPTOMS HAD REAPPEARED ABOUT ONE WEEK PRIOR TO HIS BEGINNING L-1011 GROUND SCHOOL. THE ACCD FLT WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE CAPT,S IOE IN THE L-1011.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN MANUALLY FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 8L AT ATLANTA. THE APCH WAS ALLOWED TO BECOME UNSTABLE AT ABOUT THE MIDDLE MARKER AND THE VERTICAL SPEED WAS INCREASED TO ABOUT 1290 FEET PER MINUTE ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE IOE CAPT IN THE LEFT SEAT WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY CK AMN THAT HE NEEDED TO GET HIS NOSE UP. AS THE IOE CAPT INITIATED FLARE, THE CK AMN ALSO APPLIED NOSE UP CONTROL INPUTS. THE ACFT MADE THREE TOUCHDOWNS AND THE AFT FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE RWY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE IOE CAPT HAD COMPLETED HIS FIRST CLASS PHYSICAL EXAM FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND UNDERWENT BYPASS SURGERY 17 DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, HE INDICATED THAT 3-4 YEARS EARLIER HE HAD EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH WHICH HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A HIATAL HERNIA. THE SAME SYMPTOMS HAD REAPPEARED ABOUT ONE WEEK PRIOR TO HIS BEGINNING L-1011 GROUND SCHOOL. THE ACCD FLT WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE CAPT,S IOE IN THE L-1011.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:46 EDT
Nearest AirportAtl. Hartsfield Intl. Apt (0nm N)
Runway8L
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385
Tail NumberN720DA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDelta Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · RB-211-22 · Turbofan · 41000
Seats302

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (147 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured147
Total147
Crew 1Age 53 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:01
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data