# NTSB BFO92FA020: Douglas DC-9-30, N964VJ, Horseheads, NY, January 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1992, 10:28 local (15:28 UTC)
- Place: Horseheads, NY
- Coordinates: 42.160282, -76.820777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1603&lon=-76.8208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 39 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11714
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11714/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA020

## Probable cause

THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN WIND GUST DURING LANDING FLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - initiated, copilot/second pilot
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - descent - excessive (cause)
  - level off - not attained (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, GUSTY WINDS WERE FORECAST FOR THE SURFACE TO HIGHER ALTIUTDES.  THE COPILOT WAS FLYING AND CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT FOUR MILES OUT FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 24.  THE FLIGHTCREW RECIEVED PROGRESSIVE WIND INFORMATION DURING THE APPROACH; THE LAST REPORT WAS WIND AT 310 DEGRESS AND 25 KNOTS.  THE APPROACH SPEED WAS V REF + 10. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHTCREW, DURING THE LANDING FLARE A WIND GUST OCCURRED, AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  THE GUST STOPPED AND THEN THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY AND LANDED HARD. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FUSELAGE CRACKED NEAR WHERE THE WINGS WERE ATTACHED AND THE AFT FUSELAGE WAS BENT DOWN ABOUT SEVEN DEGREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N964VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N964VJ-1992-06-02), registration cancelled 1992-06-02, S/N 47373 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-30
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47373
- Airframe hours: 59251
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Usair, doing business as Usair
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 17, 1992, 3 hours before
- Departed: ITH, ITHACA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ELM, Elmira/Corning Regional, runway 24, 6,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 19,000 total, 9,500 in this make and model, 117 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELM, 999 nm away

## 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 19920118000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920118000819A), Jan 18, 1992: Doug DC931, Elmira, NY, Substantial damage. Severe turbulence on crosswind landing raised up aircraft on flare then dropped to runway buckling aft fuselage.

## Other investigations on N964VJ (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 DCA84AA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA028), Jun 13, 1984: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31 (N964VJ), Detroit, MI, 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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