# NTSB BFO88IA012: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N924L, Baltimore, MD, December 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1987, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Coordinates: 39.170703, -76.669128 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1707&lon=-76.6691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11381
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88IA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11381/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88IA012

## Sequence of events

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

- Near collision between aircraft, maneuvering
  - radar separation - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - traffic advisory - delayed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
- Near collision between aircraft, maneuvering
  - radar separation - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - traffic advisory - delayed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

TWA FLT 388 (DC-9, N924L) WAS IN CLOUDS CLIMBING TO 7000' WHEN BALTIMORE (BWI) TRACON ADZD THAT AN ACFT (PIPER PA-28R) WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 3 MI DSCNDG FM 6700'. FLT 388 HAD PASSED 6000' & THE CAPT REQUESTED A TRAFFIC AVOIDANCE VECTOR. THE TRACON CTLR INSTRUCTED FLT 388 TO LVL AT 6000' & TURN LEFT TO 270 DEGS, BUT BY THAT TIME, FLT 388 WAS AT 6400'. AS FLT 388 WAS TURNING LEFT, IT BROKE OUT OF CLOUD TOPS & THE AIRCREW SAW THE PIPER PA-28 AT THEIR ONE O'CLOCK POSITION. THE TWA CREW TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. THE TWA CAPT SAID THE PIPER PA028 PASSED APRX 500' TO 1000' LATERALLY WITH NO VERTICALSEPARATION. THE PIPER PILOT SAID HE SAW FLT 388 AS IT CAME OUT OF THE CLOUD TOP IN A LEFT TURN. HE ESTIMATED THAT FLT 388 PASSED WITH APRX 3/4 MI SEPARATION. THE PIPER WAS VFR & FLT 388 WAS IFR & FLYING IN THE BWI ARSA. THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE IN CTC WITH BWI TRACON, BUT THEY WERE ON DIFFERENT RADIO FREQS & WERE BEING HANDLED BY DIFFERENT CTLRS. FLT 388 WAS BEING HANDLED BY A TRAINEE CTLR.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

TWA FLT 388 (DC-9, N924L) WAS IN CLOUDS CLIMBING TO 7000' WHEN BALTIMORE (BWI) TRACON ADZD THAT AN ACFT (PIPER PA-28R) WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 3 MI DSCNDG FM 6700'. FLT 388 HAD PASSED 6000' & THE CAPT REQUESTED A TRAFFIC AVOIDANCE VECTOR. THE TRACON CTLR INSTRUCTED FLT 388 TO LVL AT 6000' & TURN LEFT TO 270 DEGS, BUT BY THAT TIME, FLT 388 WAS AT 6400'. AS FLT 388 WAS TURNING LEFT, IT BROKE OUT OF CLOUD TOPS & THE AIRCREW SAW THE PIPER PA-28 AT THEIR ONE O'CLOCK POSITION. THE TWA CREW TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. THE TWA CAPT SAID THE PIPER PA-28 PASSED APRX 500' TO 1000' LATERALLY WITH NO VERTICALSEPARATION. THE PIPER PILOT SAID HE SAW FLT 388 AS IT CAME OUT OF THE CLOUD TOP IN A LEFT TURN. HE ESTIMATED THAT FLT 388 PASSED WITH APRX 3/4 MI SEPARATION. THE PIPER WAS VFR & FLT 388 WAS IFR & FLYING IN THE BWI ARSA. THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE IN CTC WITH BWI TRACON, BUT THEY WERE ON DIFFERENT RADIO FREQS & WERE BEING HANDLED BY DIFFERENT CTLRS. FLT 388 WAS BEING HANDLED BY A TRAINEE CTLR.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N924L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N924L-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N 47324, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-32
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-32) (registry code 3022066) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-5) (registry code 52046, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47324
- Engines: P&W JT-8D 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Twa
- Registered owner: 1st Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD
- Destination: HAR, HARRISBURG, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWI

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N9418N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9418N-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 28R-35130, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-35130
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Drewyer, Md
- Registered owner: Joseph D. Linehan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LNS, LANCASTER, PA
- Destination: CGS, COLLEGE PARK, MD
- Airport: BWI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N924L; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,200 total
- Pilot, aircraft N9418N; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 637 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 6 nm away

## Other investigations on N924L (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC81FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA051), Aug 13, 1981: Douglas DC-9 (N924L), St.Louis, MO, substantial damage

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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