American Airlines Flight 96 facts for kids
An American Airlines DC-10-10, similar to the plane in the accident.
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 June 1972 |
| Summary | Cargo door failure due to design flaw leading to rapid decompression |
| Place | Airspace above Windsor, Ontario |
| Passengers | 56 |
| Crew | 11 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 11 (2 crew, 9 passengers) |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 67 (All) |
| Aircraft type | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 |
| Airline/user | American Airlines |
| Registration | N103AA |
| Flew from | Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles, California |
| Stopover | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Detroit, Michigan |
| Last stopover | Buffalo Niagara International Airport Buffalo, New York |
| Flying to | LaGuardia Airport Queens, New York City, New York |
American Airlines Flight 96 was a regular flight operated by American Airlines. On June 12, 1972, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft flying as Flight 96 had a serious problem. A cargo door on the plane suddenly blew open. This caused a rapid change in air pressure inside the plane, called an explosive decompression. The event happened near Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Because of its location, people sometimes call this event the Windsor Incident.
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What Happened During Flight 96?
The main cause of the incident was a problem with the plane's cargo door. The locks on the door were not strong enough. They failed during the flight. When the locks broke, the cargo door blew off the plane. This created a large hole. Air rushed out of the cargo area very quickly.
How the Plane Was Affected
The sudden loss of the cargo door caused major damage. Part of the passenger floor above the cargo area collapsed. This led to several problems for the aircraft. The plane's rudder, which helps steer the plane, became stuck. It was jammed to the right side. Also, some control cables for the second engine were cut. Luckily, the plane's hydraulic systems, which are vital for control, were not damaged.
The Amazing Landing
Even with limited control, the pilots worked together. Captain Bryce McCormick was in charge. He managed to fly the damaged plane. Despite the difficulties, he successfully landed the aircraft. The landing took place at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. All 67 people on board survived the incident.
What Changed After the Accident?
After the Flight 96 incident, the aircraft maker, McDonnell Douglas, made some changes. They tried to improve the cargo door locks. However, these changes were not enough. A very similar accident happened later.
Connection to Turkish Airlines Flight 981
The changes made to the DC-10's cargo door were not fully successful. Less than two years later, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed. This crash was caused by the exact same problem. Its cargo door also blew open in flight. This later accident showed that the design flaw was still a serious issue.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 96 de American Airlines para niños
