Mcdonnell Douglas DC9 accident near Boston, Massachusetts, September 17, 1979
On September 17, 1979 at about 4:12 pm local time, a 1968 Mcdonnell Douglas DC9, registered CFTLU, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Boston, Massachusetts. It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 1 person had minor injuries; 44 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue fracture of the aft cabin pressure bulkhead which resulted in a rapid decompression of the aircraft's cabin area. This fracture initiated from a crack below the aft bulkhead access door which was discernible on the X-rays taken during the aircraft's last maintenance inspection but was not detected by the inspectors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1979 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 44 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC9 32, built 1968 · all DC9s on the register
- Registration
- CFTLU · no longer on the register · serial 47196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-80-13. At 1212 EDT, on September 17, 1979, Air Canada Flight 680, a scheduled passenger flight to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, departed Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. About 14 min after takeoff, at an altitude of about 25,000 ft msl, the tailcone along with the aft cabin pressure access door and a portion of the aft cabin pressure bulkhead separated from the aircraft causing rapid decompression of the passenger and flightcrew compartments. The aircraft was landed safely at Logan International Airport about 38 min after takeoff. Of the 45 persons aboard, one flight attendant received minor injuries during the decompression. The aircraft's oxygen system and its elevator control and engine control systems were damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Bulkheads (main fuselage) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,864 hours in all; 1,213 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 6,434 hours in all; 753 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28,425 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 58 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7 (turbofan); 16,950 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7 (turbofan); 22,087 hours total
- Operator: Air Canada
The flight
- Departed from: BOS Boston MA
- Destination: Yarmouth
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 4 | ||
| Passengers | 40 |
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 CFTLU 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.