Narrative:
The American Airlines Boeing 707, named "Flagship District of Columbia", was cleared for takeoff at 10:05 on a scheduled domestic non-stop IFR flight to Los Angeles, California. The aircraft carried out what appeared to be a normal takeoff, and lift-off was at 10:07 hours about 5000 ft down runway 31L. At 10:07:37 the aircraft started a gentle turn to the left approximately 8000 ft down the runway, at an altitude of 100 ft, and was established on a heading of 290° at 10:07:42. Straightening out from the turn, the aircraft continued to climb for several seconds on a heading of 290° and started a second turn to the left as instructed by Departure Control. These manoeuvres were in accordance with the noise abatement procedures then in effect for taking-off from runway 31L. Having started the second turn, the angle of bank increased until the aircraft rolled through 90° of bank at a peak altitude of about 1600 ft msl . It then entered an inverted, nose-low attitude and plunged earthward in a nearly vertical dive. It struck the earth in the shallow waters of Pumpkin Patch Channel of Jamaica Bay during low tide. Impact was at an angle of approximately 78° nose down on a magnetic heading of 300°. Fire broke out a few minutes later.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A rudder control system malfunction, producing yaw, sideslip, and roll leading to a loss of control from which recovery action was not effective."
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 1 March 1962 |
| Time: | 10:08:49 |
| Type: |  Boeing 707-123B |
| Operator: | American Airlines |
| Registration: | N7506A |
| MSN: | 17633/12 |
| First flight: | 1959 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8147 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1-MC6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 87 / Occupants: 87 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 95 / Occupants: 95 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Jamaica Bay, NY ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL), United States of America |
| Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | AA1 |
The American Airlines Boeing 707, named "Flagship District of Columbia", was cleared for takeoff at 10:05 on a scheduled domestic non-stop IFR flight to Los Angeles, California. The aircraft carried out what appeared to be a normal takeoff, and lift-off was at 10:07 hours about 5000 ft down runway 31L. At 10:07:37 the aircraft started a gentle turn to the left approximately 8000 ft down the runway, at an altitude of 100 ft, and was established on a heading of 290° at 10:07:42. Straightening out from the turn, the aircraft continued to climb for several seconds on a heading of 290° and started a second turn to the left as instructed by Departure Control. These manoeuvres were in accordance with the noise abatement procedures then in effect for taking-off from runway 31L. Having started the second turn, the angle of bank increased until the aircraft rolled through 90° of bank at a peak altitude of about 1600 ft msl . It then entered an inverted, nose-low attitude and plunged earthward in a nearly vertical dive. It struck the earth in the shallow waters of Pumpkin Patch Channel of Jamaica Bay during low tide. Impact was at an angle of approximately 78° nose down on a magnetic heading of 300°. Fire broke out a few minutes later.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A rudder control system malfunction, producing yaw, sideslip, and roll leading to a loss of control from which recovery action was not effective."
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
Rudder issueLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.14 Volume II, Circular 71-AN/63 (22-35)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 3947 km (2467 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 3947 km (2467 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing 707
- 858 built
- 6th loss
- 5th fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 15th worst accident (currently)
United States of America- The worst accident (at the time)
- 17th worst accident (currently)
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