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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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March 5, 2015 · Mcdonnell Douglas Aircraft MD 88 88 · N909DL

New York, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 5, 2015
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (132 uninjured)
Location
New York, NY
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas Aircraft MD 88 88 (1987)
Tail Number
N909DL
Operator
Delta Air Lines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA15FA085

NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report. The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-16/02. On March 5, 2015, at 1102 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 1086, a Boeing MD-88, N909DL, was landing on runway 13 at LaGuardia Airport, New York, New York, when it departed the left side of the runway, contacted the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest with the airplane's nose on an embankment next to Flushing Bay. The 2 pilots, 3 flight attendants, and 98 of the 127 passengers were not injured; the other 29 passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Flight 1086 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

the captain's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to his application of excessive reverse thrust, which degraded the effectiveness of the rudder in controlling the airplane's heading. Contributing to the accident were the captain's (1) situational stress resulting from his concerns about stopping performance and (2) attentional limitations due to the high workload during the landing, which prevented him from immediately recognizing the use of excessive reverse thrust.

Full Narrative

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-16/02. On March 5, 2015, at 1102 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 1086, a Boeing MD-88, N909DL, was landing on runway 13 at LaGuardia Airport, New York, New York, when it departed the left side of the runway, contacted the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest with the airplane's nose on an embankment next to Flushing Bay. The 2 pilots, 3 flight attendants, and 98 of the 127 passengers were not injured; the other 29 passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Flight 1086 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Nearest AirportLa Guardia (4675nm E)
Runway13
Runway Length7003 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas Aircraft MD 88 88
Tail NumberN909DL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDelta Air Lines
Operating RulePart 121
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · JT8D-219 · Turbofan · 21000 | Pratt & Whitney · JT8D-219 · Turbofan · 21000

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (132 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured132
Total132
Crew 1Age 56 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 46 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 8 kt
Visibility0.2 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 23 C
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time15:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data