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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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October 4, 1986 · Lockheed 382G · N15ST

Kelly Afb, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 4, 1986
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Kelly Afb, TX
Aircraft
Lockheed 382G
Tail Number
N15ST
Operator
Southern Air Transport
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA87AA002

AFTER THE ACFT LANDED AT KELLY AFB, TX, ON 10/2/86, THERE WAS A CREW CHG BFR IT DEPD ON THE NEXT FLT. DRG THE NEXT TAKE-OFF, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF NEAR THE MIDPOINT OF RWY 15 (APRX 5775' FM THE APCH END). WHEN IT WAS AT APRX 100' TO 200' AGL,WITNESSES SAW IT GO INTO AN EXTREMELY NOSE HI ATTITUDE & CLIMB ABOUT ANOTHER 500'. ALSO, THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT & CONTD ROLLING & TURNING LEFT UNTIL IT CRASHED ON THE RAMP IN A NEAR INVERTED ATTITUDE ON A HDG OF ABOUT 070 DEG. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT AN ELEVATOR CONTROL (CTL) BLOCK HAD JAMMED THE 1ST OFFICER'S (FO'S) CTL COLUMN WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF.THE FO OF THE PREVIOUS FLT HAD INSTALLED IT ON THE CTL COLUMN AFTER THAT FLT. THE FO OF THE ACDNT FLT HAD BEEN HIRED 6 DAYS EARLIER & MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THE DEVICE. THE BLOCK WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE ELEVATOR IN A FAIRED OR SLIGHTLY RAISED (TRAILING EDGE UP) POSITION FOR LOADING OPNS, BUT IT WAS NOT AN APPROVED DEVICE. THERE WAS AN UNWRITTEN PRACTICE FOR THE FO TO INSTALL & REMOVE THE DEVICE.

Full Narrative

AFTER THE ACFT LANDED AT KELLY AFB, TX, ON 10/2/86, THERE WAS A CREW CHG BFR IT DEPD ON THE NEXT FLT. DRG THE NEXT TAKE-OFF, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF NEAR THE MIDPOINT OF RWY 15 (APRX 5775' FM THE APCH END). WHEN IT WAS AT APRX 100' TO 200' AGL,WITNESSES SAW IT GO INTO AN EXTREMELY NOSE HI ATTITUDE & CLIMB ABOUT ANOTHER 500'. ALSO, THE ACFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT & CONTD ROLLING & TURNING LEFT UNTIL IT CRASHED ON THE RAMP IN A NEAR INVERTED ATTITUDE ON A HDG OF ABOUT 070 DEG. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT AN ELEVATOR CONTROL (CTL) BLOCK HAD JAMMED THE 1ST OFFICER'S (FO'S) CTL COLUMN WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF.THE FO OF THE PREVIOUS FLT HAD INSTALLED IT ON THE CTL COLUMN AFTER THAT FLT. THE FO OF THE ACDNT FLT HAD BEEN HIRED 6 DAYS EARLIER & MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THE DEVICE. THE BLOCK WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE ELEVATOR IN A FAIRED OR SLIGHTLY RAISED (TRAILING EDGE UP) POSITION FOR LOADING OPNS, BUT IT WAS NOT AN APPROVED DEVICE. THERE WAS AN UNWRITTEN PRACTICE FOR THE FO TO INSTALL & REMOVE THE DEVICE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:10 CDT
Nearest AirportKELLYAFB (0nm N)
Runway15
Runway Length11550 ft
Runway Width300 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed 382G
Tail NumberN15ST
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSouthern Air Transport
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAllison · 501-D22A · Turboprop · 4350
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 52 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time09:10
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data