Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jamestown, New York 14701
Monday, April 7, 1986 18:17 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A SABENA WORLD AIRLINES DC-10-30 DESCENDING FROM FL 410, ENROUTE FROM DETROIT, MI TO BOSTON MA, ENCOUNTERED HIGH ALTITUDE WINDSHEAR AS IT WAS DESCENDING THROUGH FL 404. THE PILOT, PASSENGERS AND FLIGHT ATTENDENTS STATE THAT THEY FELT VIBRATIONS PRIOR TO AN UPSET THAT CAUSED PASSENGERS, FLIGHT ATTENDENTS AND OBJECT WITHIN THE CABIN TO STRIKE THE CEILING. ELEVEN PASSENGERS AND ONE FLIGHT ATTENDENT WERE INJURED. THREE REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. PRIOR TO STARTING DESCENT NO ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE REGARDING SEAT BELTS. THE DESCENT WAS REQUESTED BECAUSE OF LARGE AMPLITUDINAL OSCILLATIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/1986
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1817
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City JAMESTOWN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14701
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 274
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 38
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 10
Injury Total None 71
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 12
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5081
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 7 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1820
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35526
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2001 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number 00SLB
NTSB Number NYC86LA101
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 129: Foreign
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model DC-10-30
Aircraft Series Identifier DC-10-30
Aircraft Serial Number 47907
Certified Max Gross Weight 580000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 194
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 143
Airframe Hours -14312
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SABENA AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address RUE CARDINAL MERCIER 1000
Aircraft Owner City BRUSSELS
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? Yes
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DTW
Departure City DETROIT
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1705
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BOS
Destination City BOSTON
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2001 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --