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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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November 15, 1987 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14 · N626TX

Denver, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 15, 1987
Injury Outcomes
81 injuries (28 fatalities, 28 serious injuries, 25 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Denver, CO
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14
Tail Number
N626TX
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA88MA004

The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-88/09. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MODERATE SNOW AND FREEZING TEMPS. FOLLOWING A 27 MINUTE DELAY BETWEEN DEICING AND DEPARTURE, ON TKOF THE ACFT WAS OVER-ROTATED BY THE F/O. ACFT CONTROL WAS LOST, THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. COMPANY PROCEDURES CALLED FOR REPEAT DEICING WHEN IN ICING CONDITIONS IF A DELAY EXCEEDS 20 MINUTES. CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TOWER AND THE FLIGHT CREW DUE TO PROCEDURAL ERRORS RESULTED IN THE DELAYED TKOF CLRNC. BOTH PILOTS WERE INEXPERIENCED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CREW POSITIONS. THE CAPT HAD 33 HRS EXPERIENCE AS A DC-9 CAPT. THE F/O HAD 36 HRS JET EXPERIENCE, ALL IN THE DC-9. F/O DEMONSTRATED WEAK SCAN IN TRNG AND HAD PLT PERFORMANCE PROBS WITH PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS. F/O WAS ON RESERVE, AND HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 24 DAYS. THE TRIP WAS ASSIGNED TO THE F/O FOR PROFICIENCY. FLT WAS F/O'S 2ND TRIP AS DC-9 F/O. WING VORTICES FROM A LANDING ACFT ON A PARALLEL RUNWAY WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB/AAR-88/09.)

Full Narrative

The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-88/09. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MODERATE SNOW AND FREEZING TEMPS. FOLLOWING A 27 MINUTE DELAY BETWEEN DEICING AND DEPARTURE, ON TKOF THE ACFT WAS OVER-ROTATED BY THE F/O. ACFT CONTROL WAS LOST, THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. COMPANY PROCEDURES CALLED FOR REPEAT DEICING WHEN IN ICING CONDITIONS IF A DELAY EXCEEDS 20 MINUTES. CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TOWER AND THE FLIGHT CREW DUE TO PROCEDURAL ERRORS RESULTED IN THE DELAYED TKOF CLRNC. BOTH PILOTS WERE INEXPERIENCED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CREW POSITIONS. THE CAPT HAD 33 HRS EXPERIENCE AS A DC-9 CAPT. THE F/O HAD 36 HRS JET EXPERIENCE, ALL IN THE DC-9. F/O DEMONSTRATED WEAK SCAN IN TRNG AND HAD PLT PERFORMANCE PROBS WITH PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS. F/O WAS ON RESERVE, AND HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 24 DAYS. THE TRIP WAS ASSIGNED TO THE F/O FOR PROFICIENCY. FLT WAS F/O'S 2ND TRIP AS DC-9 F/O. WING VORTICES FROM A LANDING ACFT ON A PARALLEL RUNWAY WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB/AAR-88/09.)

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:15 MST
Nearest AirportStapleton International (0nm N)
Runway35L
Runway Length11500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14
Tail NumberN626TX
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8-D · Turbofan · 15500
Seats90

People & Injuries

Injury Summary81 injuries (28 fatalities, 28 serious injuries, 25 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal28
Serious28
Minor25
Uninjured1
Total82
Crew 1Age 43 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 10 kt, gusting 17 kt
Ceiling500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 27 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data