# NTSB DCA83IA016: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50, N421EA, Greer, SC, February 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1983, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Greer, SC
- Coordinates: 34.929851, -82.23085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9299&lon=-82.2309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 39 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83IA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83IA016

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - control tower - not operating (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - loss(partial) (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr)
  - control tower - not operating (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - loss(partial) (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE A MISSED APCH WAS INITIATED DURING WHICH IT MADE AN INADVERTENT TOUCHDOWN & STRUCK A RWY LIGHT. THE PLT ERRONEOUSLY USED RVR AS HIS LANDING MINIMUM. ACTUAL RVR WAS BELOW THE PUBLISHED MINIMUM. THE SEQUENCEFLASHER LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N421EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N421EA-1992-06-25), registration cancelled 1992-06-25, S/N 47679 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-51) (registry code 3022051) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 12 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GSP, Greenville-Spartanburg, runway 3, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP

## 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 19830207011559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830207011559I), Feb 7, 1983: Doug DC951, Greer, NC, Minor damage. Aircraft not properly aligned with runway. Executed missed approach. Ran off runway and contacted a runway light.

## Other investigations on N421EA (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL88IA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA226), Aug 5, 1988: Douglas DC-9-51 (N421EA), Atlanta, GA, incident, minor damage

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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