# NTSB CHI91IA062: Boeing 737-322, N396UA, Kansas City, MO, January 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1991, 19:15 local (Jan 8, 1991, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Kansas City, MO
- Location: 39.2976° N, 94.7139° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KANSAS CITY INTL (MCI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2976&lon=-94.7139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 36 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91IA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14925/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91IA062

## Probable cause

IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLES, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE FIRST OFFICER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE INCIDENT ARE:  ICE ON THE RUNWAY, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT AND OPERATION BY THE FIRST OFFICER, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CAPTAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Overrun, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE FIRST OFFICER HAD CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FOR TAKEOFF ON ICE COVERED RUNWAY.  AFTER THE THROTTLES WERE ADVANCED FOR TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED STRAIGHT AHEAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS, THEN BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT.  THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, OR STOP THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE MUD AND SNOW.  AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION WAS CONDUCTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ON APPLICATION OF POWER FOR TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD A 10% GREATER N1 THAN THE LEFT ENGINE.  THE FIRST OFFICER WAS ON HIS INITIAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N396UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N396UA-2009-12-23), registration cancelled 2009-12-23, S/N 24671, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-322
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-322](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-322) (registry code 138447Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-3C series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-3c-series) (registry code 13064, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24671
- Engines: GE CFM-56-3B1 turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MCI, Kansas City Int'L, runway 27, 9,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,500 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCI, 1 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).

- [Incident 19910107002969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910107002969I), Jan 7, 1991: Boeing 737322, Kansas City, MO. As power was applied for takeoff on ice covered runway aircraft veered off runway. Engines had differential thrust.

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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