Boeing 737-232 accident near Tunica, Mississippi, July 10, 2007
On July 10, 2007 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Boeing 737-232, registered N332DL, was involved in an accident near Tunica, Mississippi (Tunica Municipal Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was killed; 115 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Gorund service personal's removal of the portable stairway prior to the main cabin door being secured. Factors were the high winds and heavy rain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2007 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tunica, Mississippi · Tunica Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 115 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-232 · all 737-232s on the register
- Registration
- N332DL · no longer on the register · serial 23104
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The charter flight was preparing for departure for an on-demand air taxi flight. The operator reported that the flight had finished boarding all passengers and the portable airstairs had been pushed back; however, the engines were not running. The mechanic was directed to secure the cabin door to prevent additional rain from soaking the main entrance and galley area as an approaching storm created gusty winds and heavy rains. Passengers seated on row 1 of the main cabin witnessed the mishap. The passengers reported that soon after boarding the airplane a "furious hard blowing rain had started." The forward cabin flight attendant attempted to close the cabin door then moved back to allow the mechanic to close it. The witness added that "suddenly his hand slipped from the door handle, his feet slipped from under him, and he fell out the doorway" onto the ramp. Following the accident, the airline developed and implemented numerous safety enhancements, including revised procedures and training regarding portable airstairs and jet-bridge operations.
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 (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,300 hours in all
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 52,222 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 120,000 lb
- Seats: 127
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky King, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: UTA Tunica MS
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from KUTA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 110 |
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.