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| Date: | Tuesday 15 March 1994 |
| Time: | 09:27 LT |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-8-61 (F) |
| Owner/operator: | American International Airways |
| Registration: | N817CK |
| MSN: | 45887/287 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 47167 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W JT3D-3B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Covington, KY -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Ypsilanti, MI (KYIP) |
| Atlanta, GA (KATL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
AT AN EN ROUTE STOP, COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OPENED THE FORWARD OVERWING EMERGENCY EXIT TO GAIN ACCESS TO A NAVIGATION LIGHT THAT NEEDED REPAIR. THE FLIGHT ENGINEER SAID THAT DURING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, THE EMERGENCY EXIT APPEARED TO BE IN PLACE, THOUGH HE DID NOT PHYSICALLY EXAMINE THE EXITS OR LATCHES. LATER, DURING CLIMBOUT, THE FLIGHTCREW WAS UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE THE AIRPLANE. DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM THE OTHER CREWMEMBERS, THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO PROCEED WITH THE FLIGHT. THE CREW DONNED THEIR OXYGEN MASKS & A CLIMB WAS CONTINUED TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE AT FL330. SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL OFF, THE CAPTAIN BECAME INCAPACITATED FROM DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS. THE FIRST OFFICER TOOK COMMAND & THE FLIGHT DIVERTED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT COVINGTON, KY. AFTER FLIGHT, THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR WAS FOUND LAYING INSIDE THE AIRPLANE. WHEN CHECKED, THE EXIT DOOR WOULD NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE FRAME, & THE DOOR LATCHES WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE LATCH PLATES ON THE FRAME, EVEN WHEN THE HANDLE WAS MOVED TO THE LOCKED POSITION.
Probable Cause: THE CAPTAIN'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CONDUCT FLIGHT AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN AN UNPRESSURIZED AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INCAPACITION FROM DEPRESSURIZATION SICKNESS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR AFTER IT WAS REMOVED TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC94LA062
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Mar-2024 10:26 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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