Accident
On August 31, 1988, Delta Air Lines Flight 1141, a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, to Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah, crashed during takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing 727-200 series, was carrying 108 occupants. The accident resulted in 14 deaths and 76 injuries.
Cause
Investigation determined the cause was the crew's failure to configure the airplane's flaps or slats for takeoff. Additionally, the aircraft's take-off warning system (TOWS) malfunctioned and failed to alert the crew to the incorrect configuration.
Aftermath
Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recordings revealed that the crew had engaged in casual conversation on matters unrelated to flight operations, which may have distracted them from their duties. The recordings were broadcast repeatedly by the press, leading to public embarrassment. Subsequently, a law was passed prohibiting the release of cockpit voice recordings; thereafter, only written transcripts have been released.