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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 2, 1994 · Douglas DC-9-31 · N954VJ

Charlotte, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 2, 1994
Injury Outcomes
57 injuries (37 fatalities, 16 serious injuries, 4 minor injuries)
Location
Charlotte, NC
Aircraft
Douglas DC-9-31
Tail Number
N954VJ
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA94MA065

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A PRIVATE RESIDENCE SHORTLY AFTER THE FLIGHTCREW EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH FROM THE RWY 18R ILS. FLIGHTCREW WAS NOT PROVIDED UPDATED WX INFO IN ATIS;WX REFLECTED THUNDERSTORM & RAINSHOWER. TERMINAL DOPPLER WX RADAR NOT INSTALLED AT ARPT AS SCHEDULED; WOULD HAVE PROVIDED CONTROLLERS WITH INFO ABOUT SEVERITY OF WX, AND INFO WOULD HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO FLIGHTCREW. INADEQ ATC PROCEDURES, BREAKDOWN IN COMM IN TOWER, PREVENTED FLIGHTCREW FROM RECEIVING ADDITIONAL CRITICAL INFO ABOUT ADVERSE WX OVER ARPT & ALONG APPROACH PATH. FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR OF 61 KTS OVER A 15 SEC PERIOD. INADEQ COMPUTER SOFTWARE DESIGN IN THE AIRPLANE'S ON-BOARD WINDSHEAR DETECTION SYSTEM PREVENTED FLIGHTCREW FROM RECEIVING MORE TIMELY WINDSHEAR ALERT. 1ST OFFICER INITIALLY ROTATED TO PROPER 15 DEG NOSE-UP ATTITUDE DURING MISSED APPROACH. HOWEVER, THRUST WAS SET BELOW STANDARD GO-AROUND EPR LIMIT OF 1.93, PITCH ATTITUDE REDUCED TO 5 DEG NOSE DOWN BEFORE FLIGHTCREW RECOGNIZED DANGEROUS SITUATION. FAA'S POI, USAIR'S MANAGEMENT, WERE AWARE OF INCONSISTENCIES IN FLIGHTCREW ADHERENCE TO OPERATING PROCEDURES WITHIN THE AIRLINE; HOWEVER, CORRECTIVE ACTIONS HAD NOT RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM.

NTSB Probable Cause

1) THE FLIGHTCREW'S DECISION TO CONTINUE AN APPROACH INTO SEVERE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THAT WAS CONDUCIVE TO A MICROBURST; 2) THE FLIGHTCREW'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE A WINDSHEAR SITUATION IN A TIMELY MANNER; 3)THE FLIGHTCREW'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRPLANE ATTITUDE AND THRUST SETTING NECESSARY TO ESCAPE THE WINDSHEAR; AND 4) THE LACK OF REAL-TIME ADVERSE WEATHER AND WINDSHEAR HAZARD INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, ALL OF WHICH LED TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH AND THE FAILURE TO ESCAPE FROM A MICROBURST-INDUCED WINDSHEAR THAT WAS PRODUCED BY A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM LOCATED AT THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 18R. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE LACK OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PROCEDURES THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE CONTROLLER TO DISPLAY AND ISSUE AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE RADAR (ASR-9) WEATHER INFORMATION TO THE PILOTS OF FLIGHT 1016; 2) THE CHARLOTTE TOWER SUPERVISOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADVISE AND ENSURE THAT ALL CONTROLLERS WERE AWARE OF AND REPORTING THE REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY AND RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE VALUE INFORMATION, AND THE LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR ALERTS THAT HAD OCCURRED IN MULTIPLE QUADRANTS; 3) THE INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTIONS BY USAIR TO ENSURE ADHERENCE TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES; AND 4) THE INADEQUATE SOFTWARE LOGIC IN THE AIRPLANE'S WINDSHEAR WARNING SYSTEM THAT DID NOT PROVIDE AN ALERT UPON ENTRY INTO THE WINDSHEAR. (NTSB REPORT AAR-95/03)

Full Narrative

Refer to NTSB Aircraft Accident Report NTSB AAR-95-03 for detailed information.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:43 EDT
Nearest AirportCharlotte/Douglas Intl (0nm)
Runway18R
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDouglas DC-9-31
Tail NumberN954VJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-7 · Turbojet · 12600
Seats103

People & Injuries

Injury Summary57 injuries (37 fatalities, 16 serious injuries, 4 minor injuries)
Fatal37
Serious16
Minor4
Uninjured0
Total57
Crew 1Age 38 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 16 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:36
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data