Douglas DC-8 crash, Jan 11, 1983 (3 killed), Detroit-Metr...
Douglas DC-8 accident on January 11, 1983 near Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County, Michigan, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause: The flight crew...
- Date: January 11, 1983
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-8
- Location: Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County, Michigan, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The flight crew failed to follow checklist requirements and to detect and correct a mistrimmed stabilizer before the aircraft became uncontrollable. Contributing was the captain allowing the second officer, who was not a qualified pilot, to occupy the first officer seat and conduct the takeoff.
A United Airlines DC 8 freighter rolled right during climb after takeoff from Detroit and crashed into a farm field, killing all three crew. The NTSB found the stabilizer trim had not been set for takeoff and the crew did not catch it. The second officer, not a qualified pilot, was flying from the first officer seat.