- Date
- February 3, 1982, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC)
- Place
- Philadelphia, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 154 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1814UMcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-10
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 3, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 72206
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircrews of a united DC-10 (flt 99 heavy) and two U.S. Air DC-9'S (flt 25 and flt 199) taxied for takeoff at about the same time. Due to delays, the no. 2 engine of flt 199 was shut down in accordance with applicable fuel conservation procedures. After flt 99 was cleared for takeoff, the aircrew of flt 199 started their engine, but it torched and emitted flames from the tail cone. The captain of flt 25 saw the flames and transmitted on tower frequency, "99, you're right engine's on fire." At about that time, united flt 99 heavy was lifting off. Thinking he had an engine fire, the captain of united flt 99 heavy aborted above V1/VR rather than continuing into a low ceiling with fog and rain. The captain thought he could stop on the hard surface, but was unable. The plane came to rest on muddy terrain. One passenger was injured during evacuation. During this sequence, the tower controller was unable to see the runway dueto the low visibility (3/8 mi).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1814U
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-10
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46613
- Airframe hours
- 26,938
- Engine
- GE CF6-6D, 40,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Airlines Inc.
- Departed
- PHL · Philadelphia, PA
- Destination
- LAX · Los Angles, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- PHL · Philadelphia Intl, runway 9L, 9,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 24,000 total · 900 in this make and model · 162 in the last 90 days · 62 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 4 knots
- Temperature
- 100 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PHL