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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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June 18, 1987 · Boeing 757-251 · N515US

Detroit, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
June 18, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (123 uninjured)
Location
Detroit, MI
Aircraft
Boeing 757-251
Tail Number
N515US
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI87IA163

A NORTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 757, OPERATING AS FLIGHT 336, SCRAPED THE TAIL CONE AREA OF THE FUSELAGE ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT GROUND CLEARANCE DURING ROTATION AND TAKEOFF FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE BOEING 757 FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL STATES THAT 'NORMALLY...APPROXIMATELY 3 DEGREES PER SECOND IS A GOOD ROTATION RATE. ' ON PAGE THREE OF THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER DATA, UNDER PITCH, IT INDICATES A PITCH CHANGE OF 5.997 DEGREES IN ONE SECOND, AND 4.922 DEGREES IN THE NEXT SECOND. THE FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL ALSO STATES THAT 'ROTATING AT TOO FAST A RATE FOR EXISTING CONDITIONS AND/OR AN EARLY ROTATION CAN RESULT IN A TAIL STRIKE.'

Full Narrative

A NORTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 757, OPERATING AS FLIGHT 336, SCRAPED THE TAIL CONE AREA OF THE FUSELAGE ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT GROUND CLEARANCE DURING ROTATION AND TAKEOFF FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE BOEING 757 FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL STATES THAT 'NORMALLY...APPROXIMATELY 3 DEGREES PER SECOND IS A GOOD ROTATION RATE. ' ON PAGE THREE OF THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER DATA, UNDER PITCH, IT INDICATES A PITCH CHANGE OF 5.997 DEGREES IN ONE SECOND, AND 4.922 DEGREES IN THE NEXT SECOND. THE FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL ALSO STATES THAT 'ROTATING AT TOO FAST A RATE FOR EXISTING CONDITIONS AND/OR AN EARLY ROTATION CAN RESULT IN A TAIL STRIKE.'

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time08:56 EDT
Nearest AirportDetroit Metro (0nm N)
Runway21
Runway Length10500 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 757-251
Tail NumberN515US
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT9D-7 · Turbofan · 40550
Seats195

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (123 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured123
Total123
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:55
Weather SourceWFAC

External Links

Appendix: Source Data