CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT
AMERICAN AIRLINES, BOEING 707—123, N 7514A
NEAR PECONIC RIVER AIRPORT, CALVERTON,
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, AUGUST 15, 1959
SYNOPSIS
At approximately 1641 e.d.t., August 15, 1959, an American Airlines Boeing 707, N 7514A, crashed and burned in an open field approximately three miles northeast of Peconic River Airport, Calverton, Long Island, New York, during a training flight. All five crew members, which included one captain-instructor, two captain-trainees, one flight engineer-instructor, and one flight engineer-trainee, were fatally injured.
The Board believes the accident was caused by the failure of the crew to recognize and correct the development of excessive yaw which resulted in subsequent loss of control. The unintentional maneuver which followed occurred at too low an altitude to permit complete recovery.
Subsequent to the accident, the Federal Aviation Agency discontinued the requirement that Boeing 707 aircraft make actual landings with simulated failure of 50 percent of the power units concentrated on one side of the aircraft during training flights, type ratings, and proficiency checks. These maneuvers may now be simulated at an appropriate higher altitude.
On February 5, 1960, Boeing Airplane Company issued a service bulletin approved by the Federal Aviation Agency for an improved rudder modification which adds boost power to the wider ranges of directional movement, and gives increased control capability at low airspeeds and minimum gross weight. This modification also replaces the original rudder with an improved version.
Investigation
On August 15, 1959, Boeing 707—123, N 7514A, which had been regularly used for nonstop air carrier flights between Los Angeles and New York, was scheduled for two training flights.
Following completion of the first morning training flight, a turnaround check was accomplished and several minor discrepancies were corrected. In order to bring the total fuel to 84,000 lbs., 10,647 gallons were added. The engine oil and water tanks were serviced to the required capacities.
Jet transition training flight 514 was dispatched with Captain Harry C. Job as captain-instructor, Captains Fred W. Jeberjahn and William T. Swain asUSCOMM-DC-27262
