# NTSB DCA88MA004: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14, N626TX, Denver, CO, November 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1987, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.760677, -104.919486 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7607&lon=-104.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 28 fatal, 28 serious, 25 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88MA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15891/pdf
- Board report AAR8809 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8809.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88MA004

## 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 - icing conditions
  - weather condition - snow
  - radio communications - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - information unclear, pilot in command
  - identification of aircraft visually - not possible, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
  - monitoring - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - delayed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)
  - wing - ice
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - abrupt, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience, copilot/second pilot
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, copilot/second pilot
- 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-88/09. 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

WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MODERATE SNOW AND FREEZING TEMPS. FOLLOWING A 27 MINUTE DELAY BETWEEN DEICING AND DEPARTURE, ON TKOF THE ACFT WAS OVER-ROTATED BY THE F/O. ACFT CONTROL WAS LOST, THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. COMPANY PROCEDURES CALLED FOR REPEAT DEICING WHEN IN ICING CONDITIONS IF A DELAY EXCEEDS 20 MINUTES. CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TOWER AND THE FLIGHT CREW DUE TO PROCEDURAL ERRORS RESULTED IN THE DELAYED TKOF CLRNC. BOTH PILOTS WERE INEXPERIENCED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CREW POSITIONS. THE CAPT HAD 33 HRS EXPERIENCE AS A DC-9 CAPT. THE F/O HAD 36 HRS JET EXPERIENCE, ALL IN THE DC-9. F/O DEMONSTRATED WEAK SCAN IN TRNG AND HAD PLT PERFORMANCE PROBS WITH PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS. F/O WAS ON RESERVE, AND HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 24 DAYS. THE TRIP WAS ASSIGNED TO THE F/O FOR PROFICIENCY. FLT WAS F/O'S 2ND TRIP AS DC-9 F/O. WING VORTICES FROM A LANDING ACFT ON A PARALLEL RUNWAY WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, SEE NTSB/AAR-88/09.)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N626TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N626TX-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 45726, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-14
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-14) (registry code 3022034) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45726
- Engines: P&W JT8-D 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: BOI, BOISE, ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton International, runway 35L, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,125 total, 166 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 1 nm away

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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