B741, en-route, East Moriches NY USA, 1996

Summary
On 17 July 1996, a Boeing 747, operated by TWA, experienced an in-flight breakup and then crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, USA.

Event Details
When	July 1996
Actual or Potential Event Type	Airworthiness, Loss of Control
Day/Night	Day
Flight Conditions	VMC

Flight Details
Aircraft	BOEING 747-100
Operator	Trans World Airlines
Domicile	United States
Type of Flight	Public Transport (Passenger)
Origin	New York/John F Kennedy International Airport
Intended Destination	Paris/Charles de Gaulle Airport
Take off Commenced	Yes
Flight Airborne	Yes
Flight Completed	No
Flight Phase	Cruise
	ENR

Location
Approx.	near East Moriches, NY
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General
Tag(s)	Inadequate Airworthiness Procedures

LOC
Tag(s)	Airframe Structural Failure

AW
System(s)	Airframe, Fuel, Other
Contributor(s)	Component Fault after installation

Outcome
Damage or injury	Yes
Aircraft damage	Hull loss
Fatalities	Most or all occupants ()

Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)	Aircraft Technical

Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)	Aircraft Airworthiness

Investigation Type
Type	Independent

In-Flight Explosion

Description

On 17 July 1996, a Boeing 747, operated by TWA, experienced an in-flight breakup and then crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, USA.

Safety issues in the official accident report focus on fuel tank flammability, fuel tank ignition sources, design and certification standards, and the maintenance and ageing of aircraft systems.

Related Articles

• Ageing Aircraft - Electrical Wiring
• Airworthiness

Further Reading

For further information:

• see NTSB - AAR 00/03 In-flight Breakup Over The Atlantic Ocean, Trans World Airlines Flight 800, Boeing 747-131, N93119, Near East Moriches, New York, July 17, 1996.
• see also FAA "Lessons Learned from Transport Airplane Accidents": TWA Flight 800, Boeing 747-100, N93119