Boeing 707-323C accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 1, 1987
On May 1, 1987 at about 1:05 am local time, a Boeing 707-323C, registered N8404, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Will Rogers World Arpt. airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1987 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Will Rogers World Arpt. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 707-323C · all 707-323Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8404 · no longer on the register · serial 19584
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENGINE START GROUND PERSONNEL EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY DISCONNECTING THE AIRSTART UNIT HOSE. THE GROUND SIGNALMAN LEFT THE VIEW OF THE CREW TO ASSIST THE OTHER MEN IN AN EFFORT TO DISCONNECT THE UNIT FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ASSUMING THAT ALL WAS CLEAR, STARTED TO TAXI. THE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING RESULTED FROM COLLISION WITH THE STARTING UNIT.
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: 13,149 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 7,196 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,687 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 12, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 328,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT3D-3B (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKC Oklahoma City OK at 1:05 am
- Destination: ICT Wichita KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8404 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.