Boeing 727-231 N74317

Summary

On 10 September 1990 at about 02:32 local time, a Boeing 727-231 registered N74317, operated by Trans World Airlines, was involved in an incident near New York City, New York, United States. 153 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 September 1990 at 02:32

Classification

Incident

Location

New York City, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Laguardia (LGA)

Coordinates

40.7705, -73.8699

Aircraft

Boeing 727-231

Registration

N74317

Category

Airplane

Engines

3

Operator

Trans World Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC90IA219

3 people had minor injuries.

THE EXHAUST PIPE FIRE IN THE APU WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNAUTHORIZED EVACUATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PASSENGERS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER LANDING AND DURING TAXI TO THE GATE, THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU TORCHED AND FLAMES CAME OUT NEAR THE RIGHT WING. A PASSENGER SITTING NEAR THE WINDOW SHOUTED FIRE. A PASSENGER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE SITTING NEAR THE OVER WING EMERGENCY EXIT OPENED THE EXIT AND STARTED AN UNWARRANTED EVACUATION WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL MOVING. THE CABIN AND FLIGHT CREW ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE ORDER, BUT MANY OF THE PASSENGERS WERE ALREADY OUT ON THE WING AND OPENING DOORS. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ACTIVATED THE EVACUATION ALARM AND FLIGHT CREW BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP. THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETELY EVACUATED AND TOWED TO THE GATE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.