# NTSB ATL88IA037: Douglas DC-9-31, N8988E, Cleveland, OH, November 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1987, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, OH
- Location: 41.4995° N, 81.6954° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cleveland, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4995&lon=-81.6954&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 64 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7626/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - thrust reverser,actuator - fatigue (cause)
  - thrust reverser,actuator - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE DESCENDING INTO CLEVELAND FROM 25,000 FEET THE PILOT, EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT LURCH IN THE AIRFRAME. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AN AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT UPPER THRUST REVERSER DRIVE LINK WAS BROKEN. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE DRIVE LINK DISCLOSED A FATIGUE FRACTURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8988E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8988E-1992-02-28), registration cancelled 1992-02-28, S/N 47098 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47098
- Airframe hours: 50351
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 18500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 8, 1987, 609 hours before
- Departed: ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: CLEVELAND, OH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 14,055 total, 1,014 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19871115081909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871115081909A), Nov 15, 1987: Doug DC931, Cleveland, OH, Substantial damage. Thrust reverser door opened during descent. Had fatigue failure of the outboard upper thrust reverser driver link.

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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