Emery Worldwide DC-8-71F plane crash
Sacramento, California, USA
Updated on
The Emery Worldwide Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F had just departed Sacramento Mather Airport, California, on a cargo flight to Dayton, Ohio. Shortly after takeoff, the crew reported serious pitch-control difficulties and requested an immediate return to the airport.
The pilots managed to keep the aircraft airborne for several minutes despite large pitch variations. During the return toward the runway, pitch control deteriorated again. The DC-8 crashed into an automobile salvage yard near the airport and was destroyed. All three crewmembers were killed.
Investigation findings
The NTSB determined that the probable cause was a loss of pitch control resulting from the disconnection of the right elevator control tab. The investigation established that the bolt connecting the tab mechanism to its pushrod had become disconnected because it had not been properly secured and the condition had not been detected during maintenance and inspection. The cargo-shift hypothesis mentioned in early reports was therefore not retained as the final cause.