Incident Overview
On March 18, 1989, Evergreen International Airlines Flight 17 (designated 4U17/EIA17) was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 cargo flight operating under the Air Force Logair program. The flight's planned route was from Kelly Air Force Base to Tinker Air Force Base, with a scheduled stop at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas.
Flight Details
The aircraft was crewed by two pilots, who were the only occupants on board. Shortly after departing from Carswell Air Force Base, the aircraft's main cargo door opened in flight. Following the door opening, the flight crew lost control of the aircraft.
Accident Sequence
While attempting to execute an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed. The accident resulted in the deaths of both pilots.
Investigation
The investigation into the accident focused on the circumstances leading to the cargo door opening and subsequent loss of control. The sequence of events was documented as: the main cargo door opened, the crew lost control, and the aircraft crashed during the emergency landing attempt.