# NTSB DCA87MA046: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82, N312RC, Romulus, MI, August 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1987, 20:45 local (Aug 17, 1987, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Romulus, MI
- Coordinates: 42.229625, -83.389617 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2296&lon=-83.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 156 fatal, 2 serious, 4 minor; on the ground: 2 fatal, 1 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15885
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA87MA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15885/pdf
- Board report AAR8805 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8805.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA046

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command
  - checklist - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command
  - diverted attention, copilot/second pilot
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lowering of slats - not performed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - warning system(other) - disabled (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-88/05. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm

NORTHWEST FLT 255 (NW255) CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF FM RWY 3C AT DETROIT METRO AIRPORT. WITNESSES SAID NW255 ROTATED FOR TAKEOFF 1200-1500 FT FROM THE END AND LIFTED OFF NR THE END OF THE 8500 FT RWY. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE WINGS ROCKED LT AND RT AND THE ACFT FAILED TO CLIMB NORMALLY. 18 FEET OF THE LT WING SEPARATED WHEN THE WING CONTACTED A LIGHT POLE 2760 FT BEYOND THE RWY END. THE ACFT ROLLED STEEPLY TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK POLES, A BLDG, AND AUTOMOBILES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A RAILROAD EMBANKMENT. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FLAPS AND SLATS WERE IN THE UP/RETRACT POSITION AND HAD NOT BEEN DEPLOYED FOR TKOF. NEITHER PLT RECITED THE ITEMS OF THE TAXI CKLIST. STALL WARNINGS WERE ANNUNCIATED BUT AN AURAL TKOF WARNING WAS NOT ANNUNCIATED BY THE CENTRAL AURAL WARNING SYSTEM (CAWS). IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT 28 VOLT DC PWR WAS NOT PROVIDED TO THE CAWS PWR SUPPLY #2. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR WAS TRACED TO A CIRCUIT BRKR BUT NO MALF OF THE CB WAS FND. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB/AAR-88/05.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N312RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N312RC-1991-04-16), registration cancelled 1991-04-16, S/N 48090 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-82
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 48090
- Airframe hours: 14928
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217 20850 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 15, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Destination: PHX, PHEONIX, AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro Wayne Cnty, runway 3C, 8,500 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,859 total, 9,459 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW, 1 nm away

## 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 19870816056669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870816056669A), Aug 16, 1987: Doug DC982, Detroit, MI, Destroyed, 156 fatal. Took off without slats and flaps extended. Struck light pole,crashed and burned. Takeoff warning system inoperative

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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