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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 8, 2017 · Mcdonnell Douglas MD80 80 · N786TW

Ypsilanti, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 8, 2017
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 115 uninjured
Location
Ypsilanti, MI
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas MD80 80 (1992)
Tail Number
N786TW
Operator
Ameristar Air Cargo
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA17FA076

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-19/01. On March 8, 2017, about 1452 eastern standard time, Ameristar Air Cargo, Inc., dba Ameristar Charters, flight 9363, a Boeing MD-83 airplane, N786TW, overran the departure end of runway 23L at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, after the captain executed a rejected takeoff. The 110 passengers and 6 flight crewmembers (two airline transport pilots and four flight attendants) evacuated the airplane via emergency escape slides. One passenger received a minor injury, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as an on-demand charter flight and was destined for Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed at YIP at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

the jammed condition of the airplane's right elevator, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic wind while the airplane was parked and rendered the airplane unable to rotate during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were (1) the effect of a large structure on the gusting surface wind at the airplane's parked location, which led to turbulent gust loads on the right elevator sufficient to jam it, even though the horizontal surface wind speed was below the certification design limit and maintenance inspection criteria for the airplane, and (2) the lack of a means to enable the flight crew to detect a jammed elevator during preflight checks for the Boeing MD-83 airplane. Contributing to the survivability of the accident was the captain's timely and appropriate decision to reject the takeoff, the check airman's disciplined adherence to standard operating procedures after the captain called for the rejected takeoff, and the dimensionally compliant runway safety area where the overrun occurred.

Full Narrative

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-19/01. On March 8, 2017, about 1452 eastern standard time, Ameristar Air Cargo, Inc., dba Ameristar Charters, flight 9363, a Boeing MD-83 airplane, N786TW, overran the departure end of runway 23L at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, after the captain executed a rejected takeoff. The 110 passengers and 6 flight crewmembers (two airline transport pilots and four flight attendants) evacuated the airplane via emergency escape slides. One passenger received a minor injury, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as an on-demand charter flight and was destined for Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed at YIP at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:55 EST
Nearest AirportWillow Run International Airpo (0nm)
Runway23L
Runway Length7543 ft
Runway Width161 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas MD80 80
Tail NumberN786TW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAmeristar Air Cargo
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney · JT8D-219 · Turbojet | Pratt And Whitney · JT8D-219 · Turbojet
Seats155

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 115 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured115
Total116
Crew 1Age 41 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 54 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 35 kt, gusting 50 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 12 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time21:53

Appendix: Source Data