Miami – Quito – Guayaquil
Flight / Schedule
Miami – Quito – Guayaquil
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8Registration
HC-BKN
MSN
45754
Year of Manufacture
1965
Operator
Aeroservicios EcuatorianosDate
September 18, 1984 at 11:04 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
City
Crash Location
Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City) Pichincha
Region
South America • Ecuador
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On September 18, 1984 at 11:04 AM, Miami – Quito – Guayaquil experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos, with the event recorded near Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City) Pichincha.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a city crash site.
4 people were known to be on board, 53 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 1325.0%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 49.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The DC-8 landed at Quito at 06:52 after a flight from Miami. Shortly after scheduled departure time of 09:00 members of the Ecuadorian Federation of Aircrews (FEDTA) requested and were granted permission to board the aircraft and discuss subjects relating to the aircrews' strike. The four Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos crew members didn't comply with the strike, after consulting AECA management. After a delay of about two hours, the n°4 engine was started. The crew then ordered the aircraft to be towed to the runway, perhaps in order to hasten the departure. The other engines were started during the towing operation. Pre-takeoff checks were not (or improperly) carried out. This caused the 0.5° horizontal stabilizer nose-up to go undetected, while 8° nose-up is required for takeoff. The DC-8 thus barely climbed after a ground run, extended to 48 meters beyond the runway end. The horizontal stabilizer struck the wooden structure of the ILS aerial, 83 meters past the runway 35 end. The aircraft then crashed into houses, 460 meters past the runway end and 35 meters to the right of the extended centreline. A total of 25 houses were demolished. All four crew members as well as 49 people on the ground were killed. At least 50 other people on the ground were injured, some of them seriously.
Aircraft reference details include registration HC-BKN, MSN 45754, year of manufacture 1965.
Fatalities
Total
53
Crew
4
Passengers
0
Other
49
Crash Summary
The DC-8 landed at Quito at 06:52 after a flight from Miami. Shortly after scheduled departure time of 09:00 members of the Ecuadorian Federation of Aircrews (FEDTA) requested and were granted permission to board the aircraft and discuss subjects relating to the aircrews' strike. The four Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos crew members didn't comply with the strike, after consulting AECA management. After a delay of about two hours, the n°4 engine was started. The crew then ordered the aircraft to be towed to the runway, perhaps in order to hasten the departure. The other engines were started during the towing operation. Pre-takeoff checks were not (or improperly) carried out. This caused the 0.5° horizontal stabilizer nose-up to go undetected, while 8° nose-up is required for takeoff. The DC-8 thus barely climbed after a ground run, extended to 48 meters beyond the runway end. The horizontal stabilizer struck the wooden structure of the ILS aerial, 83 meters past the runway 35 end. The aircraft then crashed into houses, 460 meters past the runway end and 35 meters to the right of the extended centreline. A total of 25 houses were demolished. All four crew members as well as 49 people on the ground were killed. At least 50 other people on the ground were injured, some of them seriously.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
1325.0%
Known people on board: 4
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Miami – Quito – Guayaquil
Operator
Aeroservicios EcuatorianosFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
City
Region / Country
South America • Ecuador
Aircraft Details
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