What happened
During the departure from runway 31 at Palm Springs, the Boeing 727 (registration N8405H) climbed to an altitude of roughly 500 feet. During this initial climb phase, observers on the ground noted two metallic fragments detaching from the right side of the aircraft. Following this separation, the aircraft experienced a sudden and steep nose-down pitch. While the plane leveled out slightly during its descent, it continued to lose altitude until it struck the desert terrain approximately four miles north-northwest of the airport.
The impact occurred in an area filled with large boulders, which caused the aircraft to break up during the ground roll. A fire subsequently ignited in the left wing and spread rapidly, destroying much of the airframe. The accident resulted in 5 serious injuries among the 18 passengers, while the remaining passengers and the crew of three sustained minor or slight injuries. There were 0 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations revealed that a component of the right wing leading edge detached during flight. This structural failure was caused by a mechanic failing to properly secure the leading edge section with retaining screws during a heavy maintenance check performed only two hours prior to the accident. Although gap straps had been installed, they were unable to withstand the aerodynamic loads once the primary fasteners were missing. The error went unnoticed because the subsequent inspection by the lead mechanic was inadequate.