# N981DL: 1991 Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, registration cancelled 2022-11-30

- Type: Cancelled registration (FAA registry, deregistered aircraft)
- Cancelled: November 30, 2022
- Status when cancelled: Valid registration
- Airframe: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688)
- Engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053)
- Data sheets: [TCDS A6WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A6WE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Serial number: 53268
- Year built: 1991
- Type of aircraft: Fixed wing multi engine
- Engine type: Turbo-jet
- Airworthiness: Standard, transport
- Airworthiness date: May 21, 1991
- Certificate issued: July 22, 2010
- Last registry action: October 30, 2020
- Mode S code: ADAF31
- Owner when cancelled: [Delta Air Lines Inc](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/DELTA%20AIR%20LINES%20INC)
- Location: [Atlanta, GA](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/GA/Atlanta)
- Owner type: Corporation
- Owner's area on the map: 33.6604° N, 84.3865° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at the center of ZIP code 30354, within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs). The owner's mailing address, not where the aircraft was based
- The mark today: https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N981DL
- FAA registry: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=981DL
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N981DL-2022-11-30

From the FAA registry file of November 3, 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 Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88: https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88.md

## Service difficulty reports (236, newest 50)

Matched to this aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model.

- [SDR DALA2019050902913](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019050902913), May 9, 2019: LIGHT. INOPERATIVE. SEAT 29DE EMERGENCY LIGHT INOP. RELAMPED EMERGENCY PATH LIGHT AT 29DE & OPS CK GOOD. (LP5653546)
- [SDR DALA2019040202079](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019040202079), Mar 31, 2019: SHUTOFF VALVE. LEAKING. SHIP 0981 -(HYD) ALT GEAR EXT - RIGHT HYDRAULIC PRESS WENT TO ZERO WITH QUANTITY AT 1. COMPLIED WITH QRH PROCEDURES. CREW USED ALTERNATE GEAR EXTEND. RUDDER HYD
- [SDR DALA2019031001550](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019031001550), Mar 9, 2019: UNKNOWN. ODOR. AT APPROX. 1000 AGL THE LEFT AFT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR WENT OFF AND THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SMOKE SMELL NOTICED BY BOTH PILOTS AND BOTH REAR FLT ATTENTANTS. NO 
- [SDR DALA2019030501472](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019030501472), Mar 5, 2019: LIGHT. BLOWN. NO CABIN CEILING STANDBY LIGHTS WORKING. FOUND ALL BULBS BLOWN FROM NOSE TO TAIL. REPLACED CEILING STANDBY LAMPS AT SEATS 3, 11, 14, 18, 22, 25, 28, AND 32. REF
- [SDR DALA2019030401384](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019030401384), Mar 1, 2019: SMOKE DETECTOR. MALFUNCTIONED. LAV 203 AFT LT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR WENT OFF DURING CLIMB THEN STOPPED. CREW STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR BURNING ODOR IN THE AFT LEFT LAV. DUE TO SUSPECTED 
- [SDR DALA2019022701259](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019022701259), Feb 24, 2019: SMOKE DETECTOR. MALFUNCTIONED. AFT LEFT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR INTEMITTENLY GOES OFF IN FLIGHT. REMOVED AND REPLACED AFT LEFT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR REF MD88 AMM 26-13. (LP5092598)
- [SDR DALA2019022501161](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019022501161), Feb 24, 2019: SMOKE DETECTOR. FALSE ACTIVATION. LT. REAR LAV SMOKE DETECTOR FAULSLEY WENT OFF DURING FLIGHT. STAYED ON FOR 10 MINUTES. REMOVED AND REPLACED LT AFT LAV SMOKE DETECTOR. (LP5092592)
- [SDR DALA2019022501159](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2019022501159), Feb 23, 2019: SMOKE WARNING. FALSE ACTIVATION. LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEMS MEL NUMBER ADDED FOR DISPATCH RELEASE, LOG REDEFERRAL REQUIRED. AFT LEFT LAV SMOKE DET ALARM ACTIVATED ON FINAL AND STOPPED BEF
- [SDR DALA2018112006698](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018112006698), Nov 20, 2018: BATTERY. INOPERATIVE. EMERGENCY LIGHT NOT COMING ON IN THE COCKPIT. REMOVED AND REPLACED BATTERY FOR THE FORWARD CEILING PANEL AND THE COCKPIT CEILING EMERGENCY LIGHT REF MD88 AMM 33
- [SDR DALA2018090705499](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018090705499), Sep 7, 2018: DOOR FRAME. CRACKED. ON SVC FOUND LT W/W DOOR JAMB CRACKED. STOP DRILLED ONE UNTERMINATED CRACK BRANCH AS PER ENGINEERING EVALUATION, EMAIL DATED 06 SEP 18. REPLACED LT FWD DOOR JAM
- [SDR DALA2018062904296](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018062904296), Jun 28, 2018: FLOOR PANEL. DAMAGED. AISLE FLOOR PANEL SPONGY APPROX STA 285. RMVD DAMAGE FLOOR PANEL PER AMM 53-20. INSTALLED NEW DMFG PART ON WO 10981 PER AMM 53-20. CKS GOOD. A/C OK FOR SVC.
- [SDR DALA2018061103933](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018061103933), Jun 11, 2018: BATTERY PACK. INOPERATIVE. FWD EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED THE FWD EMERGENCY LIGHT BATTERIES. OP CHECKED GOOD IAW AMM 33-53.
- [SDR DALA2018011700258](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018011700258), Jan 15, 2018: CONTROLLER. FAULTED. LOST PRESSURIZATION AT FL 310 BOTH AC PACKS IN AUTO. BOTH 1 AND 2 AUTO PRESSURE CONTROLLERS SHOWED "INOP" ANNUNCIATION. PERFORMED AUTO PRESS CONTROLLER BITE. FO
- [SDR DALA2018011700256](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2018011700256), Jan 14, 2018: PIN. LOOSE. FOUND L1 DOOR SLIDE ENGAGEMENT PIN LOOSE/OUT. R&R L1 DOOR SLIDE PER W/C 2561-4964.
- [SDR DALA2017082406376](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2017082406376), Aug 21, 2017: WIRE HARNESS. DAMAGED. SEAT 11D EMERGENCY LIGHT INOP. REPLACED AISLE EMERGENCY LIGHT SEAT HARNESS.
- [SDR DALA2017070205172](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2017070205172), Jun 30, 2017: SLIDE. DEFECTIVE. TAIL SLIDE PACK UNRAVELING, WON'T FIT INTO PACK COVER. TAILCONE SLIDE ASSY REPLACED PER OPN 2561-4001 JOB 000- 0004. SLIDE OFF 88-2561-9-0003 00821.
- [SDR DALA2017062604968](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2017062604968), Jun 25, 2017: STRUT. CORRODED. CORROSION AT LOWER END OF NLG PISTON. REPLACED CYLINDER IAW WORKCARD 3221-6192.
- [SDR DALA2017041703113](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2017041703113), Apr 16, 2017: UNKNOWN. ODOR. ENGINE ANTI-ICE USED TWICE. BOTH TIMES DURING USE, AN ODOR WAS NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE CABIN AND COCKPIT. OZONE TYPE ODOR. IT CEASED WHEN ENGINE ANTI-ICE WAS SEL
- [SDR DALA2017020701008](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2017020701008), Feb 6, 2017: FUSE. BLOWN. F/A ON AFT JUMPSEAT REPORTED HEARING 3 POPS AND SEEING ONE BRIGHT FLASH ON FINAL APPROACH, AFTER GEAR EXTENSION BUT BEFORE LANDING ALSO REPORTED AN ELECTRICAL O
- [SDR DALA2016111408752](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016111408752), Nov 13, 2016: POWER SUPPLY. INOPERATIVE. AT LEFT AND RIGHT AFT OVERWING EXITS, UPPER EXIT SIGN LIGHTS INOP. REPLACED POWER SUPPLY B5-105 PER AMM 33-53.
- [SDR DALA2016102407544](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016102407544), Oct 21, 2016: BATTERY. DISCHARGED. CEILING EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOP BETWEEN ROW 21 AND 34. REPLACED BATTERIES IN EMERGENCY POWER PACK FOR LIGHTS AT ROW 21-34 CHECKS GOOD IAW AMM 33-53.
- [SDR DALA2016091406609](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016091406609), Aug 26, 2016: ENGINE. FAILED. RETURNED TO DEPARTURE WITH A REPORTED NR 1 ENGINE FAILURE. THE COMPRESSOR STALLED DURING CLIMB. THE CREW REPORTED THAT AFTER THE COMPRESSOR STALL, THE ENGINE PA
- [SDR DALA2016082806258](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016082806258), Aug 26, 2016: ENGINE. FAILED. AT TAKEOFF ROTATION, THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED. REPLACED THE NR 1 ENGINE IAW SPC 88-7110-9-0010.
- [SDR DALA2016060104270](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016060104270), May 29, 2016: SLEEVE. DISCONNECTED. DURING TAXI OUT, ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER RT ENGINE START AND DURING T/O WARNING, CHECK RT ENGINE AUTO CANCELED TO MAX POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT
- [SDR DALA2016042703361](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016042703361), Apr 11, 2016: PANEL. CRACKED. ON B-CHECK FOUND 12" CRACK IN PANEL 3703A. C/W SECTION I TIME LIMITED REPAIR IAW ERA 545854-14.
- [SDR DALA2016021000969](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2016021000969), Feb 10, 2016: PIN. PULLED. MAINTENANCE FOUND THE L1 DOOR EMERGENCY ESCAPE SLIDE PINS PULLED OUT. THE EMERGENCY ESCAPE SLIDE PACK WAS REPLACED AT DOOR L1.
- [SDR DALA2015121407587](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015121407587), Dec 13, 2015: BATTERY PACK. INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE FOUND BOTH COCKPIT EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. BATTERY PACKS WERE REPLACED.
- [SDR DALA2015112307148](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015112307148), Nov 20, 2015: DOOR FRAME. CRACKED. RT WHEEL WELL FWD GEAR DOOR JAMB CRACKED. INSTALLED PERM REPAIR ERA 541708-14, REV ORIGINAL, OK FOR SERVICE.
- [SDR DALA2015091605672](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015091605672), Sep 15, 2015: ACM. SMOKE. ACFT IN MEM RUNNING A/C PACKS OFF OF START CART EXPERIENCED SMOKE HAZE IN CABIN WITH ODOR. TURNED OFF LEFT PACK. SMOKE CLEARED A BIT BUT WAS STILL PRESENT. DISC
- [SDR DALA2015070104061](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015070104061), Jun 29, 2015: SKIN. CRACKED. FOUR CRACKS ON FUSELAGE SKIN OF 0.125", 0.062", 0.156", AND 0.281" OF LENGTH LOCATED BETWEEN BS Y=372 TO Y=374 AND LONG 20RT-21RT AT FWD CARGO DOOR JAMB UPPER C
- [SDR DALA2015063004047](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015063004047), Jun 29, 2015: RELEASE CABLE. FRAYED. BROKEN STRANDS ON TAIL CONE RELEASE CABLE. RELEASE CABLE WAS REPLACED.
- [SDR DALA2015063004046](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015063004046), Jun 29, 2015: LONGERON. CRACKED. CRACKED LONGERON 14R BS 1380. LONGERON REPAIRED IAW ER/A 536440-14, REV ORIGINAL.
- [SDR DALA2015063004038](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015063004038), Jun 29, 2015: LONGERON. CORRODED. DURING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, FOUND CORROSION OUT OF LIMITS ON LONGERON 22 LT FROM STA Y=1155 TO STA Y =1174 IN REF CARD 156, ZONE 100, CARD 269, ZONE 100.02. 
- [SDR DALA2015063004035](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015063004035), Jun 29, 2015: ANGLE. CRACKED. CRACKED FRAME ANGLE BS 1380 BETWEEN LONGERON 15-16R . FRAME ANGLE WAS REMOVED AND FABRICATED, TREATED, PAINTED, AND INSTALLED IAW SRM 51-30-2, 51-30-5, 53-14-4 
- [SDR DALA2015062904017](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062904017), Jun 28, 2015: BEAM. CORRODED. CORROSION ON AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT UPPER BEAM FROM BS 1200 - 1212. BEAM WAS REPLACED IAW SRM 51-30-5. . .
- [SDR DALA2015062804014](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062804014), Jun 27, 2015: SKIN. CRACKED. CRACKED FUSELAGE SKIN UNDER REMOVED DOUBLER AT AFT ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT, BS 1406 BETWEEN LONGERONS 1-2R. DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED WITH ER/A 534412-14AD, REV ORIG.
- [SDR DALA2015062704012](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062704012), Jun 26, 2015: DOUBLER. CORRODED. CORROSION ON PRODUCTION DOUBLER BS 579 BETWEEN LONGERON 28 - 29L. AREA WAS REPAIRED IAW ER/A 536442-14, REV ORIGINAL.
- [SDR DALA2015062603963](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062603963), Jun 25, 2015: TAB. DENTED. DENT ON LT ELEVATOR ANTI-FLOAT TAB. LT ELEVATOR ANTI-FLOAT TAB WAS REPAIRED IAW SRM 55-04, PAR 2.
- [SDR DALA2015062503957](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062503957), Jun 24, 2015: SKIN. CRACKED. CRACKED INNER FUSELAGE SKIN JUST FWD OF CANTED FRAME, STA 1463 AND PROYECTION LONG 2R AT AFT ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT, RII: N ENTR 797732 W, SKIN DAMAGE WAS REPAIR
- [SDR DALA2015062503956](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062503956), Jun 24, 2015: SKIN. DAMAGED. LIGHTNING STRIKES ON RT WINDOW BELT BETWEEN BS 636-655 FWD EDGE AND AFT UPPER CORNER. THE WINDOW BELT WAS REPAIRED IAW ER/A 536435-14, REV ORIGINAL.
- [SDR DALA2015062603969](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062603969), Jun 23, 2015: SUPPORT FITTING. CORRODED. CORROSION ON MLG SUPPORT FITTING BUSHING BORE. DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED IAW DWG SR 09570087, REV BB AND ETI-88-15-182, REV ORIGINAL AND ER/A 474111-14AD, REV A.
- [SDR DALA2015062603967](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062603967), Jun 23, 2015: HOUSING. WORN. MID-CARGO DOOR HANDLE HOUSING WORN. DAMAGED HOUSING WAS REPLACED IAW SRM 51-30-2.
- [SDR DALA2015062403942](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062403942), Jun 23, 2015: SUPPORT FITTING. DAMAGED. SCRATCH ON RT MLG SUPPORT FITTING BORE IN REF CARD 12, ZONE 18, CARD 14, ZONE 018. DAMAGE ON BEARING BORE WAS REPAIRED IAW ETI-88-15-182, REV ORIGINAL AND ER/A 
- [SDR DALA2015062403939](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062403939), Jun 23, 2015: SKIN. SCRATCHED. SCRATCHES ON RT WINDOW BELT, BS 750-769, LWR EDGE. REPAIRED.
- [SDR DALA2015062403944](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062403944), Jun 22, 2015: SKIN. DAMAGED. LIGHTNING STRIKES ON RT WINDOW BELT STA Y=731-750, AFT UPPER CORNER. RT WINDOW BELT STA Y= 731-750 WAS REPAIRED IAW ETI-88-15-192, REV 1 AND ER/A 536436-14AD, R
- [SDR DALA2015062303936](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062303936), Jun 22, 2015: FRAME. CORRODED. DURING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES WAS FOUND, CORROSION OUT OF LIMITS BS 1307 BETWEEN LONGERON 26LT AND 30 AT AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT IN REF CARD 248, ZONE 100, CARD 2
- [SDR DALA2015062303934](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062303934), Jun 22, 2015: KEELBEAM. CRACKED. CRACKED ANGLE BELOW KEEL BEAM AT RT MLG W/W AFT INBD CORNER. ANGLE BELOW KEEL BEAM AT RT MLG W/W AFT INBD CORNER WAS REPAIRED IAW ER/A 413026-14 MA, REV ORIGINA
- [SDR DALA2015062303933](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062303933), Jun 22, 2015: LONGERON. CORRODED. CORROSION ON LONGERON 19R BETWEEN FRAME Y=1287 AND Y=1309 AT AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT. FASTENER WAS REMOVED, CORROSION SECTION LONGERON DAMAGE WERE REMOVED. NEW SE
- [SDR DALA2015062203893](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062203893), Jun 21, 2015: INTERCOSTAL. CRACKED. CRACKED INTERCOSTAL X=0 BETWEEN STA Y=1307 TO Y=1287 ALSO X=3 BETWEEN STA Y=1287 TO Y=1279 AT FLOOR STRUCTURE CABIN. SM, W2, CARD 301, ZONE 201. INTERCOSTAL WER
- [SDR DALA2015062203891](https://openairdocs.org/sdr/DALA2015062203891), Jun 21, 2015: LONGERON. CORRODED. DURING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, FOUND CORROSION OUT OF LIMITS ON LONGERON 22 LT FROM STA Y=1155 TO STA Y =1174 IN REF. CARD156, ZONE 100. CARD 269, ZONE 100. SEC

All 236: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N981DL-2022-11-30/reports.md

## NTSB investigations (1)

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 MIA95LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA055), Jan 6, 1995: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 (N981DL), Monroe, LA, no damage. Probable cause: an in-flight encounter with weather during a climb, resulting in an injury to a flight attendant who got out of her seat to perform a duty.

## FAA accident and incident reports (3)

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 20020107000089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020107000089I), Jan 7, 2002: Doug MD88 (N981DL), Louisville, KY. (-23) During departure and climb out of cvg, delta flt. 9221 had a left air conditioning pack temperature high indication and the crew shut the left pack off.…
- [Accident 19950106001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950106001249A), Jan 6, 1995: Doug MD88 (N981DL), Monroe, LA. Severe turbulence on climb to cruise. Flight attendant injured. Diverted.
- [Incident 19920714030419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920714030419I), Jul 14, 1992: Doug MD88 (N981DL), Rochester, NY. Decrease in hydraulic fluid. Turned pumps off until landing. B nut loose on right engine case drain filter line.

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