Investigation Summary
Flight 767-103 was a multi-leg cargo service originating in Miami. After landing in Quito, the crew prepared for the short final leg to Guayaquil. During this turnaround, the crew was distracted by an ongoing labor dispute involving the Ecuadorian Federation of Aircrews (FEDTA). In an effort to hasten their departure and bypass the strike, the crew ordered the aircraft to be towed to the runway and started the engines while the aircraft was still in motion under tow. This rushed environment led to a failure to perform essential pre-flight tasks. The departure clearance was handled incorrectly, with no formal determination of the maximum takeoff weight for the high-altitude airport's conditions, nor a proper calculation of the center of gravity. Most critically, the horizontal stabilizer was set to 0.5 degrees nose up. For the aircraft's configuration, an 8-degree setting was required to facilitate rotation. As the DC-8 accelerated down the runway, the incorrect trim setting made it aerodynamically difficult to lift the nose. By the time the crew realized the aircraft would not rotate, they had insufficient runway remaining to stop. The jet struck an ILS antenna at the runway end before plowing into the residential district of Quito surrounding the airport.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause was the crew's failure to correctly configure the horizontal stabilizer for takeoff, which prevented the aircraft from rotating and becoming airborne. Contributory factors included the crew's psychological state due to a labor dispute, haste during pre-flight preparations, and the failure to perform essential weight and balance calculations. The airport's location in a densely populated urban area significantly increased the ground casualty count.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Horizontal Stabilizer
A movable aerodynamic surface at the tail used to control the aircraft's pitch trim; an incorrect setting here prevented the nose from lifting during the takeoff roll.
Instrument Landing System (ILS) Antenna
Ground-based equipment located at the end of the runway which the aircraft struck during the overrun.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash resulted in 49 ground fatalities, far exceeding the number of occupants on the aircraft.
- 02At least 50 additional people on the ground were injured, many of them seriously.
- 03The horizontal stabilizer was set to 0.5 degrees nose up, while 8 degrees was required for takeoff.
- 04The crew was involved in a labor dispute, which investigators cited as a factor in their haste and lack of concentration.
- 05President Leon Febres Cordero declared three days of national mourning following the disaster.
- 06The accident site was near the same location where Cubana Flight 389 would crash 14 years later under similar circumstances.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Relocation
The crash intensified public demand to move the airport out of the urban center, eventually leading to the opening of the new Mariscal Sucre International Airport in 2013.
Runway Safety Area Construction
Following subsequent similar accidents at the same site, a runway safety area was eventually constructed in 1999-2000 to provide more overrun space.