# Accident 19901203052362A: Boeing 727251, Detroit, MI, December 3, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 1990, 13:45 local time
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Airport: Detroit Metro Wayne County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: NWAA
- Location: 42.2192° N, 83.3499° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2192&lon=-83.3499&mi=10
- Aircraft: N278US, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N278US-2011-12-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 727-251 (registry code 138408H, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-251) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727251
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D15A
- People aboard: 154
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,400 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA91MA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA91MA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901203052362A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON TAKEOFF ROLL RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH N3313L THAT WAS LOST IN FOG AND STOPPED ON RUNWAY. ABORTED TAKEOFF.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N3313L, Doug DC914: [Accident 19901203052361A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901203052361A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 DCA91MA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA91MA010), Dec 3, 1990: Boeing 727-251 (N278US), Romulus, MI, substantial damage, 8 fatal. Probable cause: LACK OF PROPER CREW COORDN, INCLUDING VIRTUAL REVERSAL OF ROLES BY THE DC-9 PLTS, WHICH LED TO THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TAXIING & ALERT GND CTLR OF THEIR POSITIONAL UNCERTAINTY IN A TIMELY MANNER BFR &…

## Other reports on N278US (7)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20010927038779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010927038779I), Sep 27, 2001: Boeing 727251 (N278US), Fort Wayne, IN. (-23) Kha 1875, B-727, fwa to lax, at 11252 declared an emergency and returned due to an engine problem (#1 engine out). The a/c landed at fwa on rw 5 w/o…
- [Incident 20000921031609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000921031609I), Sep 21, 2000: Boeing 727251 (N278US), Fort Wayne, IN. (-23)KHA1864 returned to fwa due to #1 engine shut down (loss of oil pressure). Aircraft landed without incident. See SDR #00-564 on file dfw FSDO.
- [Incident 19990304020989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990304020989I), Mar 4, 1999: Boeing 727251 (N278US), Toledo, OH. #1 Engine lost oil quanity, crew shut down engine, declared an emergency and landed Toledo without incident. Maintanance found a bad gearbox heli-coil. A new…
- [Accident 19900928065649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900928065649A), Sep 28, 1990: Boeing 727200 (N278US), Detroit, MI, Minor damage. Fire in APU taxiing to gate. Had prior start problem and placarded. Mechanic failed to disable unit.
- [Incident 19891223065199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891223065199I), Dec 23, 1989: Boeing 727251 (N278US), Bismarck, ND. Right main gear departed taxiway while turning. Steering ineffective due to ice on taxiway.
- [Incident 19891208062759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891208062759I), Dec 8, 1989: Boeing 72751 (N278US), Omaha, NE. Electrical smell in mid cabin. Water compressor or circuit breaker popped when it malfunctioned.
- [Incident 19811120083959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811120083959I), Nov 20, 1981: Boeing 727 (N278US), Chicago, IL. Pilot experienced a compressor stall on the nr 2 engine. Returned to o hare field. Found engine gear box failure.

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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
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.
