# Incident 19980117003089I: Doug DC981, New York, NY, January 17, 1998

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 1998, 07:33 local time
- Place: New York, NY
- Airport: La Guardia
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: USAA
- Location: 40.7772° N, 73.8726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAGUARDIA (LGA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7772&lon=-73.8726&mi=10
- Aircraft: N812US, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N812US-2009-02-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-81(MD-81) (registry code 3022081, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-81-md-81) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 (registry code 52051, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC981
- Reported engine: PWA JT8D217
- People aboard: 146
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 29,358 total, 1,698 in this make and model, 134 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980117003089I

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE RUNWAY STRIKING THE TAIL. THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE WEIGHT CALCULATION WHICH AMOUNTED TO 14,000 LBS. LESS THAN THE ACTUAL WEIGHT. THIS WEIGHT DIFFERENCE CAUSED THE LANDING SPEED TO BE LOW AND RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. ON LANDING, NO INJURIES OCCURRED ONLY AIRCRAFT DAMAGE. US AIRWAYS GAVE THE PILOTS A RECHECK WHICH WAS OBSERVED BY THE FAA. THE PILOTS MET THE STANDARDS DURING THIS CHECK. THE CREW USED THE CHECKLIST. THEREFORE, NO FAR VIOLATION IS FOUND. HOWEVER, ONE ITEM WAS INADVERTENTLY MISSED. SINCE US AIRWAYS DECIDED TO RECHECK THE CREW, THE FAA DID NOT BELIEVE A SECOND RECHECK WOULD BE NECESSARY. THE FAA WAS PRESENT DURING THE CHECK.

## Other reports on N812US (2)

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

- [Incident 19940709030139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940709030139I), Jul 9, 1994: Doug DC981 (N812US), Hickory, NC. Notified of possible turbulence. Turned seat belt sign on. Severe drop in altitude. Minor injury to 4 crew and 1 pass
- [Incident 19900111003949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900111003949I), Jan 11, 1990: Doug DC981 (N812US), Rochester, NY. Right tire blew on landing. Taxied to gate. Replaced tires and down lock sensor cable.

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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