Douglas DC-8-63 N794AL

Summary

On 15 February 1992 at about 08:26 local time, a Douglas DC-8-63 registered N794AL was involved in an accident near Swanton, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 February 1992 at 08:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Swanton, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Toledo Express (TOL)

Coordinates

41.5809, -83.8900

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8-63

Registration

N794AL

Category

Airplane

Engines

4

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Toledo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DCA92MA022

4 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO PROPERLY RECOGNIZE OR RECOVER IN A TIMELY MANNER FROM THE UNUSUAL AIRCRAFT ATTITUDE THAT RESULTED FROM THE CAPTAIN'S APPARENT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, RESULTING FROM PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND/OR A FAILED ATTITUDE DIRECTOR INDICATOR. (NTSB REPORT AAR-92/05)

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FIRST OFFICER HAD MADE TWO ILS APPROACHES, BUT, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, FAILED TO PROPERLY CAPTURE THE ILS LOCALIZER AND/OR GLIDESLOPE. DURING THE SECOND MISSED APPROACH, THE CAPTAIN ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE; HOWEVER, HE APPARENTLY BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE TO DEVELOP WITH BANK ANGLES UP TO 80 DEG AND PITCH ANGLES UP TO 25 DEG. THE FIRST OFFICER ASSUMED CONTROL AND BEGAN LEVELING THE WINGS AND RAISING THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE, BUT IMPACT OCCURRED BEFORE THE UNUSUAL ATTITUDE RECOVERY WAS COMPLETED. THE OPERABILITY OF THE CAPTAIN'S ATTITUDE DIRECTOR INDICATOR AT THE TIME CONTROL WAS LOST IS UNCERTAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.