# N8978E: 1968 Douglas DC-9-31, registration cancelled 2010-07-20 - Type: Cancelled registration (FAA registry, deregistered aircraft) - Cancelled: July 20, 2010 - Status when cancelled: Sale reported - Airframe: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) - Engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044) - Data sheets: [TCDS A6WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A6WE), [TCDS E2EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/E2EA) (OpenAirDocs) - Serial number: 47327 - Year built: 1968 - Type of aircraft: Fixed wing multi engine - Engine type: Turbo-jet - Airworthiness: Standard, transport - Airworthiness date: October 10, 1968 - Last registry action: July 20, 2010 - Mode S code: AC62CA - Location: [Fort Lauderdale, FL](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/FL/Fort%20Lauderdale) - Owner type: Individual - Owner's area on the map: 26.1860° N, 80.1727° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at the center of ZIP code 33309, within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs). The owner's mailing address, not where the aircraft was based - The mark today: https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8978E - FAA registry: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=8978E - Page: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8978E-2010-07-20 From the FAA registry file of October 31, 2026, cancelled registrations. Owners' street addresses are left out. The Mode S code belongs to the N-number, not the airframe. ADs and bulletins for the Douglas DC-9-31: https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31.md ## Service difficulty reports (58, newest 50) Matched to this aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model. - [SDR DALA1013349995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA1013349995), Jun 12, 2010: LAMP. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK MX FOUND EMERGENCY LIGHTS IN CAT WALK AFT 2 LAMPS INOP. FOUND LIGHTS ASSY CIRCUIT BAD. R & R AFT AND MIDDLE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES IAW WDM 33-51-03 - [SDR DALA108749995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA108749995), Apr 25, 2010: FUSE. FAILED. DURING MX CHECK FOUND LAST 4 SEAT EMERGENCY TRACK LIGHTS INOP. MX FOUND FUSE BLOWN IN BATTERY PACK. REPLACED FUSE AND OPS CHECK OF LIGHTS IS NOW GOOD IAW AMM 33 - [SDR DALA108109995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA108109995), Apr 16, 2010: BATTERY PACK. INOPERATIVE. DURING LAYOVER CHECK MX FOUND AFT EMERGENCY EXIT SIGN DIDN'T ILLUMINATE DURING LIGHT TEST. MX REPLACED EXIT SIGN BATTERY PACK IAW MM 33-53-00. SIGN NOW LIGHTS U - [SDR DALA105589995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA105589995), Mar 15, 2010: WIRE. DAMAGED. DURING LINE CHECK, MX FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTING FOR THE CATWALK IN THE TAIL COMPARTMENT WAS INOPERATIVE. MX FOUND A BAD SPLICE IN THE POWER SUPP - [SDR DALA103869995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA103869995), Feb 19, 2010: BATTERY PACK. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, MX FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTING IN THE FIRST CLASS SECTION OF THE CABIN HAD FAILED. MX REPLACED THE BATTERY PACK AND THE LIGHTS - [SDR DALA10386995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA10386995), Feb 19, 2010: BATTERY PACK. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, MX FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTING IN THE FIRST CLASS SECTION OF THE CABIN HAD FAILED. MX REPLACED THE BATTERY PACK AND THE LIGHTS - [SDR NWAA093249995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA093249995), Sep 19, 2009: FUSE. BLOWN. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTING IN THE FIRST CLASS SECTION OF THE CABIN HAD FAILED. MAINTENANCE REPLACED FUSE IN THE PO - [SDR NWAA092869995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA092869995), Aug 12, 2009: POWER SUPPLY. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE RIGHT SIDE EXTERIOR EMERGENCY FLOOD LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE EMERGENCY LIGHT POWER SUPPLY A - [SDR NWAA092889995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA092889995), Aug 11, 2009: CONNECTOR. DIRTY. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY FLOOD LIGHT FOR THE AFT EVACUATION SLIDE WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. MAINTENANCE FOUND THE SLIDE FLOODLIGHT CONN - [SDR NWAA092879995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA092879995), Aug 11, 2009: LIGHT. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT TWO OF THE THREE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTS FOR THE CATWALK IN THE TAIL COMPARTMENT WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACE - [SDR NWAA092759995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA092759995), Aug 4, 2009: CLAMP. LEAKING. AT FL240 DURING THE DESCENT CREW NOTICED THE CABIN CLIMBING. COM PROCEDURES WERE INITIATED BUT WHEN THE RED CABIN PRESS LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE CREW COMPLIED WITH - [SDR NWAA091299995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA091299995), Apr 14, 2009: DOUBLER. CRACKED. FLIGHT ATTENDANT LOG BOOK INDICATED LEFT OVERWING EXIT HANDLE SLOWLY POPS OUT. MAINTENANCE REMOVED LEFT OVERWING EXIT DOOR AND FOUND LOWER AIRCRAFT FRAME ASSEMB - [SDR NWAA082309995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA082309995), May 22, 2008: WIRE. BROKEN. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY PATHWAY LIGHTING IN ROWS 18-21 OF THE CABIN WERE INOPERATIVE. A BROKEN WIRE WAS DISCOVERED AS THE CAUSE - [SDR NWAA081879995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA081879995), Apr 26, 2008: LIGHT. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE EXTERIOR EMERGENCY FLOOD LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTIONALLY CHECKED I - [SDR NWAA081059995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA081059995), Mar 18, 2008: LIGHT. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE CENTER EMERGENCY EXIT LIGHT IN THE TAIL COMPARTMENT WALKWAY WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE LIGHT ASSEMB - [SDR NWAA080919995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA080919995), Mar 11, 2008: FIRE DETECTOR. MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIRCRAFT DISPATCHED WITH LOOP A OF THE FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM ON MEL. WHEN PASSING THROUGH FL300 THE APU FIRE WARNING INDICATIONS ILLUMINATED. THE AMBER "LOO - [SDR NWAA074019995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/NWAA074019995), Dec 11, 2007: DOOR. OUT OF RIG. ABORTED TAKEOFF SAFELY AT APPROXIMATELY 100 KNOTS DUE TO A COCKPIT WARNING THAT THE AFT CARGO DOOR WAS OPEN. COM PROCEDURES WERE COMPLIED WITH AND THE AIRCRAFT - [SDR 0700099995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0700099995), Jan 16, 2007: SPAR. DAMAGED. DURING SPECIAL VISIT AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGED FROM LT WING JACK. THE LT WING FRONT SPAR LOWER CHORD, LEADING EDGE LOWER DOUBLER AND LEADING EDGE RIB WERE DAMA - [SDR 0602909995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0602909995), Dec 22, 2006: FRAME. DAMAGED. DURING SPECIAL VISIT AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM LT WING JACK. FRAME WAS DAMAGED AT BS 1095 L25L-L25R AND FUSELAGE SKIN DAMAGED BS 1087-1121. REPAIRS ACCOMPL - [SDR 0301049995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0301049995), May 26, 2003: SLAT. MALFUNCTIONED. AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A ROLL WHEN THE SLATS WERE INITIALLY EXTENDED. COM PROCEDURES COMPLIED WITH AND WHEN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE SLAT EXTEND RELAY WAS PULL - [SDR 0301039995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0301039995), May 23, 2003: DUCT. DAMAGED. WHEN SLATS WERE SELECTED AT APPROXIMATELY 220 KTS, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. THE BLUE SLAT EXTEND LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE AMBER SLAT DISAGREEME - [SDR 0204119995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0204119995), Dec 16, 2002: STRUT. FLAT. AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN GEAR WAS RETRACTED LOUD VIBRATION IN NOSE GEAR AREA. NO UNSAFE INDICATIONS ON GEAR. EXTENDED GEAR AND VIBRATION STOPPED. FLIGHT RETURNED AND - [SDR 0203939995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0203939995), Dec 1, 2002: GUIDE. When configuring for landing at JAX the "slat disagreement" light illuminated and the aircraft rolled to the right. COM procedures were followed and crew landed - [SDR 0202339995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0202339995), Jul 11, 2002: SWITCH. DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE NOSE TAXI LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON AFTER POWERBACK, SPARKS AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE NOSE LIGHT SWITCH PANEL. AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE GATE. MAINT - [SDR 0201199995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0201199995), Apr 18, 2002: DUCT. RATCHETING. DURING APPROACH FOR LANDING INTO GRR, THE SLAT DISAGREEMENT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT. FLIGHT CREW COMPLIED WITH COM PROCED - [SDR 0105139995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0105139995), Dec 21, 2001: DUCT. LACK OF LUBE. WHEN CONFIGURING THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT AND STABILIZED. NO BLUE SLAT EXTEND INDICATION BUT SLAT DISAGREEMENT ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ILLUM - [SDR 0001039995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/0001039995), Mar 25, 2000: POWER SUPPLY. MALFUNCTIONED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT EMERGENCY LIGHTS AT CATWALK INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9805769995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9805769995), Apr 1, 1998: WIRE. BROKEN. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND CATWALK EMERGENCY LIGHTS IN TAILCONE INOPERATIVE. REPAIRED BROKEN WIRE. OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9804359995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9804359995), Mar 10, 1998: CHECK VALVE. FAILED. BRAKES LOCKED UP DURING TAXI. MAINTENANCE REPLACED CHECK VALVE AT LEFT BRAKE CONTROL VALVE, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9801749995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9801749995), Jan 26, 1998: BATTERY PACK. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND ALL TAIL CONE EMERGENCY CATWALK PATHWAY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERY PACK, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9721489995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9721489995), Nov 13, 1997: POWER SUPPLY. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE CHECK, FOUND TWO EACH EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE ABOVE THE JUMPSEAT. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE B-5-23 POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9716159995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9716159995), Aug 21, 1997: OUTFLOW VALVE. FAILED. LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION OCCURRED AT 35,000 FEET EN ROUTE. OXYGEN MASKS WERE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT CABIN AND PRESSURIZATION WAS REGAINED THROUGH MANUAL CONTROL. FLI - [SDR 9704629995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9704629995), Mar 4, 1997: WIRE. SHORTED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND FLOOR PROXIMITY EMERGENCY LIGHTS IN TAIL COMPARTMENT INOPERATIVE. REPAIRED SHORT AT WIRING CONNECTOR. ALSO, REPLACED D - [SDR 9704339995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9704339995), Feb 26, 1997: BATTERY PACK. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT CATWALK EMERGENCY LIGHTING INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERY PACK, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9703989995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9703989995), Feb 23, 1997: BATTERIES. DISCHARGED. DURING PERIODIC CHECK, FOUND FORWARD AND AFT OVERHEAD EMERGENCY LIGHTS IN TAIL COMPARTMENT DIM. REPLACED BATTERIES IN BATTERY PACK. OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9703999995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9703999995), Feb 22, 1997: POWER SUPPLY. INOPERATIVE. DURING PERIODIC CHECK, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT EMERGENCY ESCAPE PATH LIGHTS AT CATWALK INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY. OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9704009995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9704009995), Feb 21, 1997: BATTERIES. DISCHARGED. DURING PERIODIC CHECK, FOUND OVERHEAD EMERGENCY LIGHTS AT ROW 11 VERY DIM. REPLACED BATTERIES. OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9702899995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9702899995), Feb 11, 1997: STRUT. REQD SERVICE. LANDING GEAR HANDLE WOULD NOT RAISE AFTER TAKEOFF. CREW ACTIVATED GEAR HANDLE RELEASE BUTTON AND RAISED GEAR. LEFT MAIN GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER GEAR - [SDR 9702689995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9702689995), Feb 10, 1997: FUSE. BLOWN. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND MID CABIN FLOOR PROXIMITY EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BLOWN FUSE AT AFT LEFT OVERWING EXIT EMERGENCY LIGHT, - [SDR 9700669995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9700669995), Jan 14, 1997: POWER SUPPLY. MALFUNCTIONED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT CATWALK EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9626959995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9626959995), Dec 25, 1996: BATTERY PACK. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERY PACK, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9626649995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9626649995), Dec 16, 1996: POWER SUPPLY. MALFUNCTIONED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9625199995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9625199995), Nov 24, 1996: APU. MALFUNCTIONED. DURING TAXI OUT, SMOKE WAS NOTICED IN AFT CABIN AREA. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, APU AUTO SHUTDOWN. AC WAS TOWED BACK TO THE GATE. SOURCE OF SMOKE WAS ISOLATED TO THE - [SDR 9625149995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9625149995), Nov 21, 1996: POWER SUPPLY. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAILCONE EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY AND BATTERIES, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9617209995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9617209995), Aug 7, 1996: FUSE. BLOWN. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED FUSE IN EMERGENCY BATTERY PACK, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9617249995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9617249995), Aug 4, 1996: BATTERIES. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAILCONE RELEASE HANDLE AND CATWALK EMERGENCY EXIT LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERIES, OPEATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9616619995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9616619995), Jul 31, 1996: FUSE. BLOWN. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAIL COMPARTMENT FLOOR PROXIMITY EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED FUSE AT POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL - [SDR 9616609995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9616609995), Jul 29, 1996: POWER SUPPLY. INOPERATIVE. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND TAILCONE CATWALK EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. - [SDR 9615959995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9615959995), Jul 19, 1996: FITTING. CRACKED. DURING M-CHECK, FOUND A CRACK IN THE FS 579 FRAME FITTING LEFT SIDE. REPLACED FITTIN 'G' PER SRM'S 51-10-3 AND 51-30-0. - [SDR 9614729995](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/9614729995), Jul 6, 1996: BATTERY PACK. DISCHARGED. DURING LINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, FOUND FORWARD CABIN OVERHEAD EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERY PACK, OPERATIONAL CHECK NORMAL. All 58: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8978E-2010-07-20/reports.md ## NTSB investigations (3) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL90IA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA060), Jan 31, 1990: Douglas DC-9-31 (N8978E), Louisville, KY, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: THE DISABLING OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TORQUE LINK WHICH ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO ROTATE FREELY. THE TORQUE LINK WAS DISABLED WHEN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WAS GENERATED BY EXCESSIVE PLAY OF THE TORQUE LINK… - [NTSB ATL84LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA235), Jul 25, 1984: Douglas DC-9-31 (N8978E), Augusta, GA, no damage - [NTSB IAD74AI035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI035), Dec 17, 1973: Douglas DC-9 (N8978E), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage ## FAA accident and incident reports (5) From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [Incident 20060706013349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060706013349I), Jul 6, 2006: Doug DC931 (N8978E), Kansas City, MO. (-23) On July 6, 2006 northwest airlines flight 1752, a DC-9-31, lost the number two engine upper side cowling on climb out from Kansas City International… - [Incident 20000723036049I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000723036049I), Jul 23, 2000: Doug DC931 (N8978E), Pittsburgh, PA. (-23)On July 23, 2000, at 0730E, a DC-9, s/n 47327, registered as N8978E, and operating as "nwaa" flight #1451 diverted to and landed at "pit". The aircraft… - [Incident 19951206044509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951206044509I), Dec 6, 1995: Doug DC931 (N8978E), Detroit, MI, Minor damage. Narrative: while aircraft was at dtw, maintenance noticed the left main landing gear wheel assembly missing. Maintenance also found damage on the left inboard… - [Incident 19900131001729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900131001729I), Jan 31, 1990: Doug DC931 (N8978E), Louisville, KY, Minor damage. Tower advised fire on left side on rollout. Evacuated. Torque link apex bolt sheared and gear assembly rotated. - [Accident 19840725069749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840725069749A), Jul 25, 1984: Doug DC931 (N8978E), Augusta, GA. Passenger standing in aisle injured by severe turbulence. Seat belt sign on. Attendants unaware of passenger. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.