# NTSB DCA85AA013: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15, N926AX, Philadelphia, PA, February 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 5, 1985, 23:51 local (Feb 6, 1985, 04:51 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Coordinates: 39.890239, -75.229774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8902&lon=-75.2298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15829/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA013

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
- On ground/water collision with object, other

## Analysis

AFTER LNDG, THE ACFT WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP FOR APRX 39 MIN TO LOAD CARGO. DRG THAT TIME, LGT FREEZING DRIZZLE WAS FALLING, INTERMITTENTLY MIXED WITH ICE PELLETS & SNW. THE CREW CHECKED THE ACFT SURFACES FROM THE COCKPIT & ENTRY DOOR, BUT OBSERVED NO ICE OR SNW ADHERING TO THE TOPS OF THE WINGS, NOSE SECTION, WINDSHIELD OR ABOVE THE DOOR. THE CAPT DECLINED AN OFFER TO DE-ICE, THO OTR ACFT WERE BEING DE-ICED. THE TAKEOFF WAS NRML (18 DEG NOSE UP ATTITUDE) UNTIL JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEN THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED L ROLL & BOTH ENGS COMPRESSOR STALLED. THE CAPT CORRECTED WITH L AILERON & RUDDER, THEN BEGAN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE ACFT TOUCHED DWN LEFT OF THE RWY ON THE TAIL SKID & R WING TIP,APRX 5600' FROM THE THRESHOLD & ON A 070 DEG HDG. IT THEN TRAVELED ANOTHER 2025' IN A SWEEPING RIGHT ARC, HITTING 2 RWY SIGNS & CAME TO REST HDG WEST WITH THE R PYLON BENT DOWN. INV REVEALED A THIN LAYER OF ICE (EST 0.15' THICK) WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE WINGS, RAISING THE ACFT'S STALL SPEED. WHEN DC-9-15 ACFT STALL, ENGS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO COMPRESSOR STALLS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N926AX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47002
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: PHL
- Destination: ILN, WILMINGTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PHL, Philadelphia Intl, runway 9L, 9,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 41 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHL

## 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 19850205077839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850205077839A), Feb 5, 1985: Doug DC915, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. Engines lost power due to compressor stall. Aircraft parked in freezing rain. Not de iced prior to departure.

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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