Stapleton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denver, Colorado 80220
Thursday, March 22, 1984 9:43 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO TAXIING AT CHICAGO, THE PLT HAD THE RAMP AGENT(R/A) CHECK THE REAR AIRSTAIR AS THE AFT AIRSTAIR LIGHT ON THE SECOND OFFICER'S PANEL WAS 'ON'. THE R/A RECYCLED THE AIRSTAIR & REPORTED THAT IT APPEARED CLOSED. THE LIGHT REMAINED ONSO THE PLT REFERRED TO THE MINIMUM EQUIP'T LIST WHICH REQUIRED THAT THE AIRSTAIR BE VISUALLY CHECKED CLOSED PRIOR TO FLTIF THE WARNING SYSTEM WAS INOP. DURING TAXI/TAKEOFF THE AIRSTAIR HANDLE MOVED LEADING TO AIRSTAIR OPENING ABOUT 1 FT INFLIGHT. ALL WATER WAS SHUT OFF IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT TO AVOID POSSIBLE ICE BUILD-UP & THE FLT CONTINUED TO DENVER. UPON LANDING AS THE ACFT SLOWED ON THE RWY, THE AIRSTAIR OPENED TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THE EXTERNAL AIRSTAIR HANDLE WAS FOUND IN THE FULL UP POSITION (AIRSTAIR OPEN) AFTER LANDING. THE HANDLE CAN BE PULLED DOWN PARTIALLY (NOT LOCKED) & THE AIRSTAIR WILL HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING UP & LOCKED ALTHOUGH THE UPLOCKS ARE NOT ENGAGED. RESIDUAL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE COULD KEEP THE AIRSTAIR IN THE CLOSED POSITION LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE A FALSE LOCKED INDICATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 3/22/1984
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 943
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City DENVER
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80220
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport STAPLETON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DEN
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 5333
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 133
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5003
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24181
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N88709
NTSB Number DEN84IA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR/IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 727-224
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-224
Aircraft Serial Number 19800
Certified Max Gross Weight 142000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address LOS ANGELES INTER. AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90009
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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? 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 ORD
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 35R
Runway Length 12000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --