Investigation Summary
Flight 9877 was a dedicated training mission intended for captain and flight engineer upgrades. The exercise involved complex simulated emergencies, including the failure of two engines on the same side (No. 1 and No. 2) and a simulated loss of rudder power. During the final approach to Runway 1, the instructor pilot, Captain Watson, who was in the right seat, lowered the flaps to the full landing position (50 degrees) without being commanded to do so by the trainee, Captain Morton, who was in the left seat. This configuration change at a critical phase created substantial drag. Morton attempted to arrest the resulting descent by increasing the pitch attitude rather than increasing power on the two operating engines. As the airspeed dropped to approximately 136 knots, the aircraft entered a high sideslip condition. When power was finally applied, the asymmetric thrust exacerbated the loss of control, causing the aircraft to bank sharply to the left (exceeding 60 degrees) and strike power lines and trees before cartwheeling into a residential neighborhood and the Hilton Inn motel.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was improper supervision by the instructor and the improper use of flight and power controls by both the instructor and the captain-trainee during a simulated two-engine-out landing approach. Contributing factors included the instructor's overconfidence in the trainee's abilities and potential crew fatigue, as the accident occurred in the early morning hours.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain (Instructor)
Maurice G. Watson (Instructor, Right Seat)
Captain (Trainee)
James W. Morton (Trainee, Left Seat)
Captain (Check Airman)
William T. Jeter Jr. (Acting as check airman for the Flight Engineer-instructor; 2,715 hours were as a flight engineer)
Flight Engineer (Instructor)
David E. Posey
Flight Engineer (Trainee)
George Plazza
Systems & Failure Modes
Flaps
The instructor's decision to deploy full landing flaps (50 degrees) prematurely created excessive drag that the trainee failed to counter with engine power.
Rudder Power
A loss of rudder power was simulated by illuminating a warning light, which complicated the crew's ability to manage asymmetric thrust during the emergency drill.
Asymmetric Thrust
With engines 1 and 2 at idle, the application of power to engines 3 and 4 at low airspeed induced a violent yaw and roll that led to the stall.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident resulted in 13 ground fatalities, most of whom were guests at the Hilton Inn motel.
- 02The aircraft was operating with two engines (No. 1 and No. 2) at idle to simulate failures.
- 03The instructor pilot had 19,008 total flight hours, while the trainee had 16,929 hours but only 15 in the DC-8.
- 04The aircraft struck the ground and cartwheeled, creating a 30-foot crater.
- 05The weather was clear with 5 miles visibility and light winds at the time of the crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Training Procedure Review
The accident led to a re-evaluation of the safety margins required during multi-engine failure simulations, particularly at low altitudes and during the approach phase.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the entered by an editor. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.