Boeing 727-281 accident near Charleston, South Carolina, June 22, 1990
On June 22, 1990 at about 2:12 am local time, a Boeing 727-281, registered N743US, was involved in an accident near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 116 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER UTILIZATION OF THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1990 · about 2:12 am local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 116 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 727-281 · all 727-281s on the register
- Registration
- N743US · no longer on the register · serial 20285
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PASSING 10,000 FEET MSL ON THE DESCENT FOR A NIGHT LANDING, THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ACTIVATED. FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ALL CHECKLIST PROCEDURES, THE FIRE WARNING INDICATIONS REMAINED ON. THE CAPTAIN ORDERED AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE AIRPLANE LANDED. DURING THE EVACUATION, ONE PASSENGER WAS KNOCKED OFF OF THE WING BY AN OVERZEALOUS PASSENGER AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. ANOTHER PASSENGER WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT. WHILE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS SEEKING HELP, THE PASSENGER PUT ONE CHILD ON THE SLIDE WITHOUT WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THE CHILD RESISTED. THE CHILD FELL FROM THE SLIDE AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. POST-FLIGHT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A FAULTY FIRE DETECTION ELEMENT ON THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE, AND NO EVIDENCE OF INFLIGHT FIRE WAS OBSERVED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,950 hours in all; 3,210 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 173,000 lb
- Seats: 160
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-9A (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLT Charlotte NC at 1:09 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from CHS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 | 109 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.