# Incident 19961019040589I: Doug DC931, Middletown, PA, October 19, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 1996, 09:03 local time
- Place: Middletown, PA
- Airport: Harrisburg International Airport-Olmsted
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: USAA
- Location: 40.2009° N, 76.7292° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middletown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2009&lon=-76.7292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N985VJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N985VJ-2003-07-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas DC-9-31 (registry code 3022065, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series (registry code 52048, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC931
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,143 total, 699 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961019040589I

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: ON OCTOBER 19, 1996, AT 0903 HOURS, A DOUGLAS, MODEL NUMBER DC-9-31, REGISTRATION NUMBER 985VJ, REGISTERED TO USAIR INC., RETURNED TO HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MDT) AFTER REPORTING THAT DURING TAKE-OFF, THE LEFT ENGINES REVERSE UNLOCK LIGHT WAS FLICKERING. A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED NO DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO CREW OR PASSENGERS. MAINTENANCE CLEANED AND LUBRICATED THE UPPER AND LOWER THRUST REVERSE LATCHES, AN OPERATIONAL CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE. THE FLIGHT RESUMED TO CHARLOTTE (CLT). SUBMISSION OF THIS REPORT CLOSES THIS INCIDENT.

## Other reports on N985VJ (3)

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

- [Incident 19910903044359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910903044359I), Sep 3, 1991: Doug DC931 (N985VJ), Syracuse, NY. During landing rollout pilot experienced a blown left main tire.
- [Incident 19790112001709I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790112001709I), Jan 12, 1979: Doug DC9 (N985VJ), Rochester, NY. Flight delayed for search after bomb threat.
- [Incident 19780815037149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780815037149I), Aug 15, 1978: Doug DC9 (N985VJ), Boston, MA. Flight returned, nose gear would not retract. Found leaking valve.

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.