Newark International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newark, New Jersey 07114
Thursday, November 13, 1986 12:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON NOVEMBER 13, 1986, THE REAR MAIN SPAR OF THE RIGHT WING FAILED AS DELTA FLT 194 TOUCHED DOWN ON RWY 29 AT NEWARK AIRPORT. THE PILOTS STATED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE ON FINAL APPROACH AND INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FIRST. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS FIRM BUT NOT HARD WHICH WAS CONFIRMED FROM THE 1.4G RECORDED ON THE DFDR. THE 1.4G FORCE IS WELL WITHIN THE LANDING GEAR CERTIFICATION LIMITS. THE SPAR WEB FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FATIGUE CRACK THAT ORIGINATED AT A 'HI - LOC' FASTENER HOLE LOCATED AT THE LOWER INBOARD CORNER OF A DOUBLER THAT SURROUNDS THE FUEL FILLER VALVE WHICH IS MOUNTED VERTICALLY ON THE SPAR WEB. THE FATIGUE ZONE IN THE SPAR WEB HAD PROGRESSED ABOUT 6 3/4 INCHES BEFORE THE WEB FAILED AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN. THE FRACTURE IN THE SPAR WEB EXTENDED DIAGNALLY DOWNWARD AND OUTBOARD AT 45 DEGREES FROM INBOARD WING STATION 241.0 TO INBOARD STATION 293.5. THE FLIGHT CREW DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRPLANE MALFUNCTION DURING THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/1986
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1225
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEWARK
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07114
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEWARK INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EWR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 181
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 E
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID EWR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation E
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 137
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2331
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 13 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33030
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N714DA
NTSB Number DCA87MA012
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LOCKHEED
Aircraft Model L1011
Aircraft Series Identifier L1011
Aircraft Serial Number 193C1090
Certified Max Gross Weight 430000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Unknown
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 302
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Oct 26 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 905
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELTA AIRLINES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HARTSFIELD INT'L AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DELTA AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30320
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ATL
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code EWR
Destination City NEWARK
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 6502
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --