Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, August 3, 1990
On August 3, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, registered N1804U, was involved in an accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 282 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PASSENGER SPILLING A HOT CUP OF COFFEE IN HER LAP WHILE THE FLIGHT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 282 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 · all DC-10-10s on the register
- Registration
- N1804U · registry record · serial 3604
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, A FLIGHT ATTENDANT HANDED A PASSENGER A CUP OF COFFEE. THE ATTENDANT THEN BEGAN TO SERVE ANOTHER PASSENGER WHEN THE FIRST PASSENGER KNOCKED HER SERVING TRAY AND THE CUP OF COFFEE SPILLED IN HER LAP. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR THREE DAYS. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF TURBULENCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 430,000 lb
- Seats: 297
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: SEA Seattle WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:45 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 279 |
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.