Narrative:The aircraft was flying a holding pattern near Salt Lake City because of problems with the electrical system. The flight crew contacted the company maintenance and were absent from the approach control frequency for about 7,5 minutes. During this time the aircraft had entered an area near hazardous terrain. When the crew returned to the approach control frequency, they were told to initiate a left turn were instructed to climb immediately to 8000 feet. The aircraft eventually struck a 7665 feet high mountain at 7200 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The approach controller's issuance and the flight crew's acceptance of an incomplete and ambiguous holding clearance in combination with the flight crew's failure to adhere to prescribed impairment-of-communications procedures and prescribed holding procedures. The controller's and flight crew's actions are attributed to probable habits of imprecise communication and of imprecise adherence to procedures developed through years of exposure to operations in a radar environment. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the aircraft's No.1 electrical system for unknown reasons."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 221 days (7 months) | Accident number: | NTSB/AAR-78-08 | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
Electrical system problem
Language/communication problems
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» NTSB-AAR-78-8
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 2 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 13-APR-1978 | To: | A-78-21 |
REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF CURRENT COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER PREFLIGHT TESTING PROCEDURES TO ASSURE SATISFACTORY SYSTEM OPERATION. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 13-APR-1978 | To: | A-78-22 |
REVIEW THE RELIABILITY OF COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER UNITS TO ASSURE THAT THE MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURE IS NOT EXCESSIVE. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
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Photos
accident date:
18-12-1977type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54F
registration: N8047U
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 San Francisco International Airport, CA to Salt Lake City International Airport, UT as the crow flies is 955 km (597 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the 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.