On March 30, 1967, it lost control and crashed into a residential area during a simulated engine-out approach to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

It was purchased by Delta Air Lines on September 14, 1959 and had since then accumulated a total of 23,391 flight hours.

The aircraft was originally manufactured as a DC-8-11 with four Pratt & Whitney JT3C turbojets, and later modified to a model 51 with JT3D turbofan engines.

The crew would simulate a two-engine out approach, make a full stop landing, and then take off again from runway 19.

This caused the airplane to enter a continuously-increasing left bank, which reached a maximum of 60°, with a descent angle of 14°.

The aircraft struck power lines and trees around 2,300 feet short of the runway threshold, before slashing through the corner of a house and a vehicle.

Upon striking the ground, it skidded, destroyed/severely damaged 2 houses, and came to rest against the buildings of a motel complex.

The investigators concluded that the probable cause of the accident is: Improper supervision by the instructor, and the improper use of flight and power controls by both instructor and the Captain-trainee during a simulated two-engine out landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control.