# Incident 19960618023009I: Doug DC982, Richmond, VA, June 18, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 1996, 12:10 local time
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Airport: Richmond International - Byrd Field
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: AALA
- Location: 37.5538° N, 77.4603° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richmond, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5538&lon=-77.4603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N203AA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N203AA-2008-05-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82) (registry code 3022082, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D series (registry code 52053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC982
- People aboard: 92
- Fatal injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960618023009I

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: JUNE 18, 1996. AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 636 DIVERTED INTO RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DUE TO A #1 AND #2 COMPASS MISALIGNMENT. INSPECTORS FROM THIS OFFICE INQUIRED ABOUT THE DIVERSION WITH THE STATION MANAGER WHEN WE WERE DIRECTED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CREW. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOG REVEALED THREE OPEN DISCREPANCIES ON THE COMPASS SYSTEM (PIR'S 89,90,91). FURTHER REVIEW OF THE MECHANICAL HISTORY UNVEILED SEVEN PREVIOUS PILOT DISCREPANCIES ON COMPASS RELIABILITY (PIR'S 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 82). THIS IS BEING REPORTED AS AN INCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT BOTH #1 AND #2 COMPASS SYSTEMS WERE NOT RELIABLE. FLIGHT CREW HAD TO RELY ON THE WET COMPASS FOR NAVIGATION. IF WEATHER CONDITIONS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH OR AN APPROACH INTO AN AREA REQUIRING NAVIGATION THROUGH TERRAIN, THIS NAVIGATIONAL MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TRAGEDY. THE SUBSEQUENT DAY. FLIGHT 1715 DEPARTED RICHMOND AND THE COMPASS ALIGNMENT PROBLEM RETURNED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE WET COMPASS WAS FOUND TO BE INACCURATE AS WELL. NOTE: CREW HISTORY INFORMATION REQUESTED BUT NOT ATTAINED. CREW HISTORY INFORMATION IRREVELANT TO INCIDENT.

## Other reports on N203AA (4)

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

- [Incident 20060211002359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060211002359I), Feb 11, 2006: Doug DC982 (N203AA), Memphis, TN, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft was marshalled into a parked fuel truck. The aircraft was repositioning. NTSB was notified and released the aircraft. There was minor damage to…
- [Incident 19860607029229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860607029229I), Jun 7, 1986: Doug DC982 (N203AA), Chicago, IL. During taxi out aircraft stopped and flight attendant fell. Contusion to hip.
- [Incident 19850130041949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850130041949I), Jan 30, 1985: Doug DC980 (N203AA), Chicago, IL. Flight attendant was burned when improperly secured coffee pot fell on her during landing reversing.
- [Incident 19840217055219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840217055219I), Feb 17, 1984: Doug DC982 (N203AA), Santa Ana, CA. Number 1 engine failed during climb after takeoff. Failure occurred in the stage 8 compressor section.

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.

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