# NTSB DCA84AA012: Douglas DC-9-31, N994Z, Sioux Falls, SD, December 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1983, 13:17 local (19:17 UTC)
- Place: Sioux Falls, SD
- Coordinates: 43.581622, -96.740937 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5816&lon=-96.7409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor, 84 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA84AA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA012

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING THE CREW ACQUIRED VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND & APCH LIGHTS ABOUT 200 FT AGL, FOLLOWED BY VISUAL SIGHTING OF THE RWY. SINCE THE ATIS REPORTED BLOWING SNOW, THE CREW EXPECTED TO SEE, & WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE, SNOW BLOWING ACROSS THE RWY ABOUT 2,000 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. AT ABOUT 2,200 FT DOWN THE RWY THE ACFT ENTERED A CLOUD OF SNOW, & THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A LARGE SNOW SWEEPING VEHICLE WHICH WAS TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION & TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE ACFT'S RIGHT WING SEPARATED & IT SWERVED OFF THE RWY. NEITHER THE APPROACH CONTROLLER NOR THE LOCAL CONTROLLER ADVISED THE FLT OF SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS, NOR DID THE LOCAL CONTROLLER COMMUNICATE WITH THE SWEEPER AFTER HE TOOK THE HAND-OFF OF THE FLT FROM APPROACH CONTROL. HE ALSO STATED HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SWEEPER WAS WHEN HE CLEARED THE FLT TO LAND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N994Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N994Z-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 47097, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47097
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Ozark Air Lines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SUX, SIOUX CITY, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KF3D, Joe Foss Field, runway 3, 8,999 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 25,217 total, 9,776 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 9 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft
- Temperature: -9 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19831220065129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831220065129A), Dec 20, 1983: Doug DC931, Sioux Falls, SD, Substantial damage. Aircrafts right wing hit snow removal vehicle during landing roll. Pilots were not aadvised of vehicle activity.

## Other investigations on N994Z (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 MKC76IK030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76IK030), Nov 29, 1975: Douglas DC-9 (N994Z), St Louis, MO, 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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