# NTSB DCA84AA028: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N964VJ, Detroit, MI, June 13, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: June 13, 1984, 16:56 local (20:56 UTC) - Place: Detroit, MI - Coordinates: 42.220809, -83.349205 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2208&lon=-83.3492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 10 minor, 46 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 15811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA84AA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA028 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - hail (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - hazardous weather advisory - improper, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - crew/group coordination - inadequate (cause) - missed approach - initiated, pilot in command - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - abort - go-around - not performed, pilot in command - gear extension - initiated - wheels up landing - inadvertent ## Analysis DURING ARRIVAL, THE AIRCREW (VISUALLY & BY USE OF WX RADAR) NOTED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WEST & SOUTHWEST OF THE ARPT. THE CREW ELECTED TO CONTINUE & MAKE AN ILS APCH. AT 1636, A SPCL WX OBSN HAD TSTM INFO, BUT WAS NOT NOTED. AT 1650, THE VIS DROPPED TO 1/4 MI WITH HVY RAIN & HAIL. AS THE ACFT APCHD RWY 21R, A VIP LVL 4 TSTM MOVED FROM WEST TO EAST OVER THENORTHERN PART OF THE ARPT. THE CONTOLLER PROVIDED WIND INFO FROM THE LOW LVL WIND SHEAR ALERT SYS (LLWAS), BUT USED IMPROPER PHRASEOLOGY & FAILED TO PROVIDE RVR INFO WHEN THE VIS WENT BLO 1 MI. THE CREW HAD DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING THE LLWAS INFO DUE TO THE AMOUNT & RAPIDITY THAT IT WAS PROVIDED. AT APRX 350' AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED LOW CLDS, HVY RAIN, HAIL & TURBC. THE AIRCREW INITIATED A MISSED APCH. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 143 KTS, THEN DECREASED TO APRX 119 KTS.THE CAPT BELIEVED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB & ELECTED TO LAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2500' DOWN THE RWY WITH THE GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED, THEN SLID 3800' & WENT OFF THE RWY. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 32 KTS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N964VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N964VJ-1992-06-02), registration cancelled 1992-06-02, S/N 47373 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-31 - Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47590 - Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 10750 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Usair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: HARTFORD, CT - Destination: DTW - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro, runway 21R, 10,501 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30,650 total, 14,300 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 20 knots, gusting 32 - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DTW ## 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 19840613075949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840613075949A), Jun 13, 1984: Doug DC931, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. Continued approach into thunderstorm and windshear. Unable to climb on missed approach, landed gear up. ## Other investigations on N964VJ (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 BFO92FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA020), Jan 18, 1992: Douglas DC-9-30 (N964VJ), Horseheads, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN WIND GUST DURING LANDING FLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. 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.