# NTSB DCA86AA018: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N961VJ, Erie, PA, February 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1986, 08:59 local (13:59 UTC)
- Place: Erie, PA
- Location: 42.0831° N, 80.1739° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ERIE INTL/TOM RIDGE FLD (ERI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0831&lon=-80.1739&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 22 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15853/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA018

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vref) - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - displaced threshold (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE CREW OF US AIR FLT 499 LNDD ON RWY 24, WHICH WAS CVRD WITH SNW. RPRTDLY, WHILE LNDG, THE ACFT TOUCHED DWN APRX 1800 TO 2000' BYND THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD. ALTHO ARMED, THE SPOILERS DID NOT AUTO-DEPLOY, SO THE CAPT OPERATEDTHEM MANUALLY. HE LOWERED THE ACFT'S NOSE, ACTUATED REVERSE THRUST & APPLIED BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CONTD OFF THE END OF THE RWY, RAN OVR A RWY END ID LGT, STRUCK A FENCE & CAME TO REST STRADDLING A ROAD. THE CREW HAD PLANNED ON MAKING AN ILS APCH TO RWY 6, BUT THE RVR WAS ONLY 2800' & A MIN RVR OF 4000' WAS REQD FOR THAT RWY. THE CREW ELECTED TO LND ON RWY 24, SINCE 1/2 MI VIS WAS SUFFICIENT FOR THAT RWY. HOWEVER, THE APCH WAS MADE WITH A QTRG TAIL WND & APRX 10 KTS ABV VREF. TAIL WND LNDGS WERE NOT AUTHORIZED ON RWY 24 IN WET/SLIPPERY CONDS. THE RWY BRAKING ACTION WAS RPRTD AS FAIR-TO-POOR. THE PLT'S HANDBOOK CAUTIONED THE CREW TO MONITOR THE SPOILERS WHEN LNDG ON SLIPPERY RWYS, SINCE THE SPOILERS AUTO-DEPLOY ONLY WITH WHEEL SPIN-UP OR WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL IS ON THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N961VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N961VJ-2013-03-20), registration cancelled 2013-03-20, S/N 47506, built 1970 (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)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-5) (registry code 52046, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47506
- Airframe hours: 42104
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Usair
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 1986, 326 hours before
- Departed: YYZ, TORONTO,CANADA, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KERI, Erie Intl, runway 24, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,900 total, 5,900 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 12 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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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