# NTSB DCA74AZ011: Douglas DC-9, N3323L, Chattanooga, TN, November 27, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: November 27, 1973
- Place: Chattanooga, TN · CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Location: 35.0456° N, 85.3097° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chattanooga, TN, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0456&lon=-85.3097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious, 38 minor, 37 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 28, 1975
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA74AZ011
- Board report AAR7413 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7413.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA74AZ011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0028  73/11/27   CHATTANOOGA,TENN    DOUGLAS DC-9        CR-  0  2  3  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1851                    N3323L              PX-  0  2 72                            45, 15949 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            3217 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHATTANOOGA MUNI
        OPERATOR - DELTA AIR LINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ATLANTA,GA                  CHATTANOOGA,TENN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - RAIN
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AFTR DH.FALSE IMPRESSIONS CAUSED BY VISUAL CUES.G/S TRENDED DWN.WND SHR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3323L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3323L-1974-09-18), registration cancelled 1974-09-18, S/N 47032 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-32) (registry code 3022066) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Chattanooga Muni

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.