# NTSB DCA82AA014: Mcdonnell-Douglas DC-10-10, N1814U, Philadelphia, PA, February 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 3, 1982, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Coordinates: 39.890972, -75.229644 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8910&lon=-75.2296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 154 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA82AA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72206/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA82AA014

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff
  - safety advisory - improper, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - communications/information/atc - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - identification of aircraft visually - not possible, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - abort above v1 - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46613
- Airframe hours: 26938
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 40000 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.

- Pilot; age 55; 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

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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