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Douglas DC-8-10 accident report
There have been two serious accidents with DC-8-10s:
On Dec. 16, 1960, United Airlines' DC-8-11 N8013U c/n 45290 collides mid-air with TWA's L-1049 Super Constellation N6907C. The DC-8 flew from Chicago (ORD) to Idlewild (now JFK) as Flight 826 and the L-1049 flew with 39 passengers and 5 crew Flight 266 from Dayton via Columbus to La Guardia. The Super Constellation breaks into 3 pieces after the collision and comes down to the abandoned Miller Army Air Field, in New Dorp, Staten Island (now part of the Gateway National Park). All 44 passengers are killed. After the MAC, the DC-8 flies for another 13.5km in NE direction, after which it crashes in the Park Slope section in Brooklyn and explodes. Empennage coming to rest at intersection of Sterling Place & Seventh Ave. In the crash, all 84 passengers (77 pax + 7 crew) of the DC-8 were killed, in addition, 6 people were killed and several injured on the ground. 10 houses, some shops and a church (Piller of Fire Church!) were destroyed. An 11-year-old boy initially survived the crash but later died in hospital. After the crash, the radar control was improved by the ATC. In aircraft heavier than 5670 kg, a radar transponder for identification and DME were also mandatory. Since this MAC (mid-air collision), there has been no catastrophic MAC between 2 airliners over the US. DC-8 first flight 1959 2434 hrs 4 x JT3C-6. At the time of the accident it was cloudy and foggy and there is wet snow. The DC-8 was 11 miles off course and was flying too fast. At that time the worst air disaster in American history with a total of 134 deaths.
Location : +-50m 40°40'37.53"N 73°58'25.27"W
On July 11, 1961, United Airlines' DC-8-12 N8040U c/n 45307 crashed while landing at Stapleton int'l airport, Denver, Colorado. Fight 859 Omaha (OMA) > Denver (DEN). Shortly after the start there are problems with the hydraulic pressure. On the approach to Denver, the pressure drops completely when the flaps are extended. Shoot off the runway at landing and enter a taxiway that is under construction. Landing gear is torn off and the plane catches fire. There is 1 death on the ground, first flight 1961, only 124 flight hours, 4 x JT3C-6 turbojets. The aircraft had 115 pax and 7 crew on board, of whom 17 died. www.aviation-safety.net
Literature : www.aviation-safety.net Location : +-1km 39°51'28"N 104°40'31"W
safe flight hours till fatality : 7353 [hr] (3 service years)
Literature : www.nyc-architecture.com/PS