# NTSB CEN09LA093: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-50, N782NC, Madison, WI, December 3, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 2008, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Madison, WI - Coordinates: 43.13972, -89.337501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1397&lon=-89.3375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 57 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-CMO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA093 ## Probable cause The collision between the tug and the airplane during towing as a result of sliding on the snow covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Towing and taxiing: towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md?model=3022051), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=3022051), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=3022051), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane landed on a snow covered runway and was unable to maneuver while taxiing. The pilot requested that a tug be dispatched to tow the airplane to the gate. After the tug was connected, the airplane and tug slid on the snow and the tug jackknifed and impacted the left side of the airplane causing substantial damage. The tug was subsequently re-connected and the airplane was towed to the gate. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 2008, about 1315 central standard time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50, N782NC, operated as Northwest Airlines (NWA) Flight 1742, and piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by a tug. The aircraft had just landed on runway 36 at the Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN), Madison, Wisconsin, and the flight crew requested a tug to tow the airplane to the gate due to taxiway conditions. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 flight was operated in instrument meteorological conditions and was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. No injuries were reported. The flight originated from the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan, at 1117. MSN was the intended destination. According to a report filed by the operator, the airplane landed on runway 36 at MSN about 1236. The pilot was directed by air traffic control (ATC), to exit the runway at taxiway A1. The aircraft slowed to a safe taxi speed and attempted to exit at the taxiway, but missed the taxiway and stopped about 6 feet onto the runway overrun area. The pilot contacted ATC, and requested permission to execute a 180-degree turn on the overrun. During the turn, the airplane began sliding on the snow and the flight crew stopped the airplane about 90-degrees into the turn. The airplane was facing west and was still on the paved overrun area at this time. At this point, the pilot contacted ATC and requested a tug to pull the airplane to the gate. A NWA tug was dispatched and an airport snow removal truck spread sand on the area between the nose of the airplane and its left wing. After the tug was attached to the airplane and had started to move, the airplane/tug jackknifed and slid on the snow covered runway. The tug impacted the left side of the airplane's fuselage causing a puncture to the skin and damage to internal structural members. The tug was subsequently re-connected and the airplane was towed to the gate where the passengers de-planed normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N782NC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N782NC-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 48107, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-50 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-51) (registry code 3022051) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-17-series) (registry code 52049, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 48107 - Airframe hours: 66740 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Northwest Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Northwest Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 28, 2008 - Departed: DTW, Detroit, MI - Destination: MSN, Madison, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MSN, Dane County Regional Airport, runway 36, 9,006 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 25, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 12,871 total, 3,656 in this make and model, 3,656 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 4, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 4,731 total, 4,731 in this make and model, 79 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft indefinitevv - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: MSN ## 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 20081203854839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081203854839A), Dec 3, 2008: Doug DC951, Madison, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On 12/03/08 at about 12:40 CST, northwest airlines (nwa) flight nr 1742 landed in the touchdown zone on runway 36 in Madison, Wisconsin (msn) after… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69579. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.