# NTSB ATL87IA201: Boeing 737-232, N324DL, Frankfort, KY, July 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 7, 1987, 00:58 local (04:58 UTC)
- Place: Frankfort, KY
- Coordinates: 38.19067, -84.859436 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1907&lon=-84.8594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 32 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87IA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7338/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87IA201

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - thunderstorm
  - became lost/disoriented - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, approach
  - interpretation of instructions - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - radio communications - discontinued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - monitoring - discontinued, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - control tower service - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - airport - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - landed at wrong airport - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ARPT PREVENTED ADDING FUEL TO THE ACFT AND RESULTED IN A DELAYED DEPARTURE. THE LOU VOR WAS OUT OF SERVICE, AND THE FLT WAS RADAR VECTORED UNTIL IT WAS CLEARED DIRECT TO LEX AND FOR THE APCH. AT THE TIME OF THE CLEARANCE THE FLT WAS 25 NM WNW OF THE DEST ARPT AND NORTH OF THE FLT PLAN ROUTE. BOTH APCH CONTROL AND TWR WERE CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT AT LEX. THE VOR AND ILS AT THE DEST ARPT WERE REPORTED TO BE OPERATIONAL. ANOTHER COMPANY AIRCRAFT LANDED AT LEX WHILE THIS FLT WAS EN ROUTE. ATC ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THIS ACFT WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO BE DESCENDING FROM THE ASSIGNED ALT PRIOR TO REACHING THEIR DEST. ATC REQUESTED THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER ACFT'S CREW IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THIS FLT BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING APCH CLEARANCE, THE CREW SPOTTED AN ARPT WITH RUNWAY LIGHTS ON, ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND LANDED. THEY WERE SEVENTEEN NM FROM THEIR SCHEDULED DEST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N324DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324DL-2007-11-21), registration cancelled 2007-11-21, S/N 23096, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-232
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-232) (registry code 1384475) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23069
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines,Inc.
- Registered owner: Willmington Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SDF, LOUISVILLE, KY
- Destination: LEX, LEXINGTON, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FFT, Capital City Airport, runway 24, 5,005 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,794 total, 82 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LEX, 17 nm away

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.

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