# NTSB CHI88IA088: Boeing 727-251, N277US, Detroit, MI, March 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1988, 20:20 local (Mar 28, 1988, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Location: 42.2124° N, 83.3534° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY (DTW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2124&lon=-83.3534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 24 minor, 131 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88IA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13991/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88IA088

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - from landing
  - auxiliary power unit - fire (cause)
  - evacuation - improper, passenger (contributing factor)
  - panic, passenger (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N277US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-251
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21156
- Airframe hours: 29839
- Engines: P&W JT-8D-15 14500 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SAN, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Destination: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,200 total, 4,200 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19880327023549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880327023549I), Mar 27, 1988: Boeing 727251, Detroit, MI. APU backfired on startup while waiting for clearance to taxi. Passengers and attendents panicked and evacuated.

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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