# NTSB CHI95MA044: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82, N954U, Bridgeton, MO, November 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: November 22, 1994, 22:03 local (Nov 23, 1994, 04:03 UTC) - Place: Bridgeton, MO - Location: 38.7487° N, 90.3700° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL (STL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7487&lon=-90.3700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 140 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 10050 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/CHI95MA044.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10050/pdf - Board report AAR9505 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9505.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95MA044 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The Cessna 441 pilot's mistaken belief that his assigned departure runway was runway 30R, which resulted in his undetected entrance onto runway 30R, which was being used by the MD-82 for its departure. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Automatic Terminal Information Service and other air traffic control (ATC) information regarding the occasional use of runway 31 for departure. The installation and utilization of Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-3), and particularly ASDE-3 enhanced with the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS), could have prevented this accident. (NTSB Report AAR-95/05) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), takeoff - roll/run - wrong runway - selected, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - expectancy, pilot of other aircraft - communications/information/atc - inadequate (contributing factor) - radar,asde - unavailable (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - expectancy, pilot in command - communications/information/atc - inadequate (contributing factor) - radar,asde - unavailable (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) During the takeoff roll on runway 30R, the MD-82, N954U, collided with the Cessna 441, N441KM, which was positioned on the runway waiting for takeoff clearance. The pilot of the Cessna acted on an apparently preconceived idea that he would use his arrival runway, runway 30R, for departure. After receiving taxi clearance to back-taxi into position and hold on runway 31, the pilot taxied into a position at an intersection on runway 30R, which was the assigned departure runway for the MD-82. The ATIS current at the time the Cessna pilot was operating in the Lambert-St. Louis area listed runways 30R and 30L as the active runways for arrivals and departures; there was no mention of the occasional use of runway 31. Air traffic control personnel were not able to maintain visual contact with the Cessna after it taxied from the well-lighted ramp area into the runway/taxiway environment of the northeast portion of the airport. An operational ASDE-3, particularly ASDE-3 enhanced with AMASS, could be used to supplement visual scan of the northeast portion of the airport. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See published report NTSB/AAR-95/05. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N954U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N954U-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 49426, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-82 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49426 - Airframe hours: 21438 - Engines: P&W JT8D-200 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Trans World Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Polaris Aircraft Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 11, 1994, 77 hours before - Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: STL, Lambert-St. Louis Intl, runway 30R, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N441KM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441KM-1995-04-27), registration cancelled 1995-04-27, S/N 4410196 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 441 - Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 441-0196 - Airframe hours: 3779 - Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE331 904 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Superior Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Garrett Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 1, 1994 - Departed: STL - Destination: IMT, IRON MOUNTAIN, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: STL, Lambert-St. Louis Intl, runway 30R, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N954U; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,651 total, 3,178 in this make and model, 6,461 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N441KM; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,940 total, 2,060 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: STL ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941122038712A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941122038712A), Nov 22, 1994: Doug DC982, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. On takeoff runway 30R collided with aircraft on wrong runway holding. Tower unable note plane on wrong runway. - [Accident 19941122038711A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941122038711A), Nov 22, 1994: Cessna 441, St Louis, MO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft cleared to taxi position, hold on 31, but taxied on 30R. Another aircraft taking off on 30R, collided. 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.