Lockheed L-1011-1 incident near Atlanta, Georgia, June 2, 1992
On June 2, 1992 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Lockheed L-1011-1, registered N718DA, was involved in an incident near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield Intl). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 130 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OVERHEATING OF THE NUMBER 2 AIR CYCLE MACHINE WHICH RESULTED IN AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION VIA SLIDES; THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO SECURE THE SLIDE GIRT BARS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1992 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 130 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed L-1011-1
- Registration
- N718DA · registry record · serial 193C-1097
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CABIN AND COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE DURING CLIMBOUT. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, DURING THE TAXI TO THE RAMP THE FLIGHT CREW STARTED THE APU AND SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN AND COCKPIT AGAIN. THE PILOT STOPPED THE AIRPLANE AND ORDERED AN EVACUATION VIA THE EMERGENCY SLIDES. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STARTED THE EVACUATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THREE SLIDES WOULD NOT DEPLOY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE NUMBER 2 AIR CYCLE MACHINE HAD OVERHEATED AND SMOKE FLOWED INTO THE AIRPLANE. ADDITIONALLY, THE GIRT BARS ON THE 3 INOPERATIVE SLIDES WERE NOT INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD PROCEDURES.
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: 17,500 hours in all; 175 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53,937 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 110,000 lb
- Seats: 358
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce RB211-22C-02 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 11,889 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from ATL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 11 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 119 |
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.