# NTSB CHI87IA163: Boeing 757-251, N515US, Detroit, MI, June 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1987, 08:56 local (12:56 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.400733, -82.999328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4007&lon=-82.9993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 123 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13669
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87IA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13669/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87IA163

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - rotation - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A NORTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 757, OPERATING AS FLIGHT 336, SCRAPED THE TAIL CONE AREA OF THE FUSELAGE ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT GROUND CLEARANCE DURING ROTATION AND TAKEOFF FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE BOEING 757 FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL STATES THAT 'NORMALLY...APPROXIMATELY 3 DEGREES PER SECOND IS A GOOD ROTATION RATE. ' ON PAGE THREE OF THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER DATA, UNDER PITCH, IT INDICATES A PITCH CHANGE OF 5.997 DEGREES IN ONE SECOND, AND 4.922 DEGREES IN THE NEXT SECOND. THE FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL ALSO STATES THAT 'ROTATING AT TOO FAST A RATE FOR EXISTING CONDITIONS AND/OR AN EARLY ROTATION CAN RESULT IN A TAIL STRIKE.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N515US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515US-2009-08-21), registration cancelled 2009-08-21, S/N 23203, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-251
- Registry model: [Boeing 757-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-251) (registry code 1384970) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23203
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7 40550 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Destination: BOS, BOSTON, MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro, runway 21, 10,500 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 11,865 total, 160 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Incident 19870618054339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870618054339I), Jun 18, 1987: Boeing 757251, Detroit, MI, Minor damage. Over rotated aircraft on takeoff. Tail strike with scrape.

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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