# NTSB CHI74AC040: Boeing 727, N259US, Madison, WI, December 9, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 9, 1973
- Place: Madison, WI · MADISON, WI
- Location: 43.0731° N, 89.4012° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Madison, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0731&lon=-89.4012&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 44 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 6, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC040-187705

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0033   73/12/9   MADISON,WIS         BOEING 727          CR-  0  0  6  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1440                    N259US              PX-  0  0 38                            36, 6450 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            3550 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRUAX FIELD
        OPERATOR - NORTHWEST AIRLINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ROCHESTER,MINN              WASHINGTON,DC                MILWAUKEE,WIS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAXI: FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CONGESTED RAMP/TAXIWAY
        REMARKS- DRG TURN BACK TO TAXIWAY PLT CKD WING CLRD HANGAR.STAB BALANCE HIT OPEN DOOR EXTDG OUT ABT 15FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N259US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N259US-2001-11-02), registration cancelled 2001-11-02, S/N 19978, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-251) (registry code 138408H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-5) (registry code 52046, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Truax Field

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.