Description

On 22 December 1996, during a post-maintenance airworthiness function flight at night Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), a Douglas DC8-60 being operated by Airborne Express failed to recover from an intentional approach to the stall and a full stall and loss of control without recovery then followed and led to impact into mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Narrows, Virginia.

Synopsis

The following is an extract from the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) (NTSB) Report on the Accident:

"FAA National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) data indicate that the airplane climbed through 9,000 feet at 1743:08. The airplane was level at 14,100 feet at 1745:50 and remained within 300 feet of that altitude until 1808:18, just before it entered a steep descent, according to NTAP data. Upper air temperature and dew point data indicated that cloud tops were just below 14,000 feet along the airplane’s route of flight. Flight crew comments recorded on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) indicated that the airplane flew briefly in and out of the clouds and that ice buildup was observed after they reached their assigned block altitude." […]

The Investigation

The official NTSB Report states: