McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N1752K

Summary

On 29 June 1994 at about 04:23 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 registered N1752K was involved in an accident near Caribbean. 97 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 15 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 1994 at 04:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Caribbean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-11

Registration

N1752K

Category

Airplane

Engines

3

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Miami → Buenos Aires

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA94FA169

2 people were seriously injured.

THE RESERVE FIRST OFFICER'S UNAUTHORIZED MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST OFFICER'S SEAT DURING FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE FIRST OFFICER'S LEGS BEING FORCED AGAINST THE CONTROL COLUMN, PUSHING IT FORWARD, AND DISCONNECTING THE AUTOPILOT. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT PITCHING DOWN AND SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANTS TO NEGATIVE G FORCES, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE EN ROUTE THE CAPTAIN WENT TO THE MAIN CABIN FOR A REST PERIOD AND THE RESERVE FIRST OFFICER TOOK THE CAPTAIN'S SEAT. A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE COCKPIT TO BRING A BOX OF BEVERAGES FOR THE FLIGHT CREW. SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THEM ON THE FOOTREST OF THE CENTER OBSERVER'S SEAT AS DIRECTED BY THE RESERVE FIRST OFFICER. SHE HAD TROUBLE DOING THIS AND THE RESERVE FIRST OFFICER REALIZED THE FIRST OFFICER'S SEAT WAS IN THE WAY. HE REACHED ACROSS THE COCKPIT AND WITHOUT THE FIRST OFFICER'S KNOWLEDGE ACTIVATED THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT SWITCH FOR THE FIRST OFFICER'S SEAT MOVING IT FORWARD. THE FIRST OFFICER'S LEGS WERE CROSSED AND CONTACTED THE CONTROL COLUMN PUSHING IT FORWARD. THE LIMITATIONS OF THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM WERE EXCEEDED AND THE AUTOPILOT TURNED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED TO THE FORWARD CONTROL COLUMN INPUT AND PITCHED DOWN. THIS RESULTED IN INJURIES TO PASSENGERS AND CREW. THE FIRST OFFICER TOOK MANUAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER AUTOPILOT DISCONNECT AND RETURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO LEVEL FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.