Douglas DC8-52 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Douglas DC8-52, registered N801EV, was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 109 others were unhurt. 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 29, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 109 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC8-52 · all DC8-52s on the register
- Registration
- N801EV · no longer on the register · serial 45750
- 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 FLT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ABOUT 25 MIN WITH THE SEAT BELT SIGN ON BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TURBULENCE. TWO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WERE PREPARING THE BEVERAGE CART WHEN TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE ACFT SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWNWARD CAUSING THE TWO ATTENDANTS TO HIT THE CEILING BEFORE FALLING TO THE FLOOR. AT THE SAME TIME THE BEVERAGE CART STRUCK ONE ATTENDANT ON THE FLOOR CAUSING A FRACTURED WRIST. A YOUNG PASSENGER RETURNING FROM THE LAVATORY FELL TO THE FLOOR & CUT HER LEG ON A BAGGAGE RESTRAINT BAR BENEATH A SEAT. THE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED AT LAT OF 30-25N & LONG OF 078-53W.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,125 hours in all; 6,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46,356 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 305,000 lb
- Seats: 186
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P & W JT3D-3B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCO Orlando FL at 6:37 pm
- Destination: ISP Islip NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 8 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 101 |
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.