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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 9, 1983 · Learjet 35 · N1976L

Seattle, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Seattle, WA
Aircraft
Learjet 35
Tail Number
N1976L
Operator
Barken Interl
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA83FA121

The aircraft dragged the right wing tip tank and ruptured it after the passenger door opened during takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the aircraft oscillated right, left, and right before making ground contact on the right wing. The highest altitude attained was about 100 ft AGL. Before takeoff, a Purolator cargo handler interrupted the captain closing the door to give him a package. The captain went to secure this package and the cargo handler closed the door. After the captain was in his seat, he and the co-pilot failed to note the red door warning light, mentally regarding it as a malfunctioning fuel warning even though these lights are separated by 3 other lights. During the takeoff at about 110 kts, the door opened and the abort commenced. The cargo handler was interviewed and admitted closing the door but said he never latched the door since it requires a key to activate it. This was always done by the crew.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING TIP TANK AND RUPTURED IT AFTER THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENED DURING TAKEOFF. DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF THE ACFT OSCILLATED RIGHT, LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE MAKING GROUND CONTACT ON THE RIGHT WING. THE HIGHEST ALT ATTAINED WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL. BEFORE TAKEOFF A PUROLATOR CARGO HANDLER INTERRUPTED THE CAPTAIN CLOSING THE DOOR TO GIVE HIM A PACKAGE. THE CAPT WENT TO SECURE THIS PACKAGE AND THE CARGO HANDLER CLOSED THE DOOR. AFTER THE CAPT WAS IN HIS SEAT HE AND THE CO-PILOT FAILED TO NOTE THE RED DOOR WARNING LIGHT MENTALLY REGARDING IT AS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL WARNING EVEN THOUGH THESE LIGHTS ARE SEPARATED BY 3 OTHER LIGHTS. DURING THE TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 110 KTS THE DOOR OPENED AND THE ABORT COMMENCED. THE CARGO HANDLER WAS INTERVIEWED AND ADMITTED CLOSING THE DOOR BUT SAID HE NEVER LATCHED THE DOOR SINCE IT REQUIRES A KEY TO ACTIVATE IT. THIS WAS ALWAYS DONE BY THE CREW.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:07 PDT
Nearest AirportBoeing Field (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLearjet 35
Tail NumberN1976L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBarken Interl
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TFE-731-2-2B · Turbofan · 3500
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data