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June 13, 1984 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31 · N964VJ

Detroit, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 13, 1984
Injury Outcomes
10 injuries (10 minor injuries), 46 uninjured
Location
Detroit, MI
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Tail Number
N964VJ
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA84AA028

DURING ARRIVAL, THE AIRCREW (VISUALLY & BY USE OF WX RADAR) NOTED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WEST & SOUTHWEST OF THE ARPT. THE CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE & MAKE AN ILS APCH. AT 1636, A SPCL WX OBSN HAD TSTM INFO, BUT WAS NOT NOTED. AT 1650, THE VIS DROPPED TO 1/4 MI WITH HVY RAIN & HAIL. AS THE ACFT APCHD RWY 21R, A VIP LVL 4 TSTM MOVED FROM WEST TO EAST OVER THENORTHERN PART OF THE ARPT. THE CONTOLLER PROVIDED WIND INFO FROM THE LOW LVL WIND SHEAR ALERT SYS (LLWAS), BUT USED IMPROPER PHRASEOLOGY & FAILED TO PROVIDE RVR INFO WHEN THE VIS WENT BLO 1 MI. THE CREW HAD DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING THE LLWAS INFO DUE TO THE AMOUNT & RAPIDITY THAT IT WAS PROVIDED. AT APRX 350' AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED LOW CLDS, HVY RAIN, HAIL & TURBC. THE AIRCREW INITIATED A MISSED APCH. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 143 KTS, THEN DECREASED TO APRX 119 KTS.THE CAPT BELIEVED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB & ELECTED TO LAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2500' DOWN THE RWY WITH THE GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED, THEN SLID 3800' & WENT OFF THE RWY. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 32 KTS.

Full Narrative

DURING ARRIVAL, THE AIRCREW (VISUALLY & BY USE OF WX RADAR) NOTED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WEST & SOUTHWEST OF THE ARPT. THE CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE & MAKE AN ILS APCH. AT 1636, A SPCL WX OBSN HAD TSTM INFO, BUT WAS NOT NOTED. AT 1650, THE VIS DROPPED TO 1/4 MI WITH HVY RAIN & HAIL. AS THE ACFT APCHD RWY 21R, A VIP LVL 4 TSTM MOVED FROM WEST TO EAST OVER THENORTHERN PART OF THE ARPT. THE CONTOLLER PROVIDED WIND INFO FROM THE LOW LVL WIND SHEAR ALERT SYS (LLWAS), BUT USED IMPROPER PHRASEOLOGY & FAILED TO PROVIDE RVR INFO WHEN THE VIS WENT BLO 1 MI. THE CREW HAD DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING THE LLWAS INFO DUE TO THE AMOUNT & RAPIDITY THAT IT WAS PROVIDED. AT APRX 350' AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED LOW CLDS, HVY RAIN, HAIL & TURBC. THE AIRCREW INITIATED A MISSED APCH. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 143 KTS, THEN DECREASED TO APRX 119 KTS.THE CAPT BELIEVED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB & ELECTED TO LAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2500' DOWN THE RWY WITH THE GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED, THEN SLID 3800' & WENT OFF THE RWY. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 32 KTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:56 EDT
Nearest AirportDetroit Metro (0nm N)
Runway21R
Runway Length10501 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Tail NumberN964VJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-7B · Turbofan · 10750
Seats110

People & Injuries

Injury Summary10 injuries (10 minor injuries), 46 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor10
Uninjured46
Total56
Crew 1Age 57 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 20 kt, gusting 32 kt
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data