# NTSB DCA91MA010: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14, N3313L, Romulus, MI, December 3, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: December 3, 1990, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Romulus, MI - Coordinates: 42.219177, -83.349891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2192&lon=-83.3499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 8 fatal, 10 serious, 26 minor, 154 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15942 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA91MA010.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15942/pdf - Board report AAR9105 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9105.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA91MA010 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) LACK OF PROPER CREW COORDN, INCLUDING VIRTUAL REVERSAL OF ROLES BY THE DC-9 PLTS, WHICH LED TO THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TAXIING & ALERT GND CTLR OF THEIR POSITIONAL UNCERTAINTY IN A TIMELY MANNER BFR & AFTER INTRUDING ONTO THE ACTIVE RWY. CONTRIBUING TO CAUSE OF ACDNT WERE (1) DEFICIENCIES IN ATC SVCS PROVIDED BY DETROIT TWR, INCLUDING FAILURE OF GND CTLR TO TAKE TIMELY ACTN TO ALERT LCL CTLR TO PSBL RWY INCURSION, INADQT VIS OBS, FAILURE TO USE PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRNS IN LOW-VIS CONDS, & ISSUANCE OF INAPPROPRIATE & CONFUSING TAXI INSTRNS COMPOUNDED BY INADQ BACKUP SUPERVISION FOR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OF STAFF ON DUTY; (2) DEFICIENCIES IN SURFACE MARKINGS, SIGNAGE & LGTG AT ARPT & FAILURE OF FAA SURVEILLANCE TO DETECT OR CORRECT ANY OF THESE DEFICIENCIES; (3) FAILURE OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES TO PROVIDE ADQT COCKPIT RESOURCE MAN- AGEMENT TRNG TO LINE AIRCREWS. CONTRIBUTING TO FATALITIES WAS INOPERABILITY OF DC-9 INTERNAL TAILCONE RLS MECHANISM. CONTRIBUTING TO NUMBER & SEVERITY OF INJURIES WAS FAILURE OF CREW OF DC-9 TO PROPERLY EXECUTE THE PSGR EVACUATION. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) LACK OF PROPER CREW COORDN, INCLUDING VIRTUAL REVERSAL OF ROLES BY THE DC-9 PLTS, WHICH LED TO THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TAXIING & ALERT GND CTLR OF THEIR POSITIONAL UNCERTAINTY IN A TIMELY MANNER BFR & AFTER INTRUDING ONTO THE ACTIVE RWY. CONTRIBUING TO CAUSE OF ACDNT WERE (1) DEFICIENCIES IN ATC SVCS PROVIDED BY DETROIT TWR, INCLUDING FAILURE OF GND CTLR TO TAKE TIMELY ACTN TO ALERT LCL CTLR TO PSBL RWY INCURSION, INADQT VIS OBS, FAILURE TO USE PROGRESSIVE TAXI INSTRNS IN LOW-VIS CONDS, & ISSUANCE OF INAPPROPRIATE & CONFUSING TAXI INSTRNS COMPOUNDED BY INADQ BACKUP SUPERVISION FOR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OF STAFF ON DUTY; (2) DEFICIENCIES IN SURFACE MARKINGS, SIGNAGE & LGTG AT ARPT & FAILURE OF FAA SURVEILLANCE TO DETECT OR CORRECT ANY OF THESE DEFICIENCIES; (3) FAILURE OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES TO PROVIDE ADQT COCKPIT RESOURCE MAN- AGEMENT TRNG TO LINE AIRCREWS. CONTRIBUTING TO FATALITIES WAS INOPERABILITY OF DC-9 INTERNAL TAILCONE RLS MECHANISM. CONTRIBUTING TO NUMBER & SEVERITY OF INJURIES WAS FAILURE OF CREW OF DC-9 TO PROPERLY EXECUTE THE PSGR EVACUATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather observation - inadequate (contributing factor) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - airport facilities,taxiway marking - inadequate (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor) - airport facilities,in-runway lights - not operating - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - crew/group coordination - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause) - inadequate training, company/operator management (contributing factor) - object - aircraft moving on ground - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather observation - inadequate (contributing factor) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - airport facilities,taxiway marking - inadequate (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor) - airport facilities,in-runway lights - not operating - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft moving on ground ## Analysis (aircraft 2) "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED 1/17/2008." ON DECEMBER 3, 1990, AT 1345 EST, NORTHWEST FLIGHT 1482, A DC-9 (N3313L), AND NORTHWEST FLIGHT 299, A BOEING 727 (N278US), COLLIDED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF RUNWAY 09/27 AND 03C/21C IN DENSE FOG AT DETRIOT METROPOLITAN/WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT, ROMULUS, MI. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION, THE B-727 WAS ON ITS TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE DC-9 HAD JUST TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE B-727 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE DC-9 WAS DESTROYED. SEVEN OF THE 40 PASSENGERS AND 1CREWMEMBER ABOARD THE DC-9 RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. NONE OF THE 146 PASSENGERS AND 8 CREWMEMBERS ABOARD THE B-727 WERE INJURED. (SEE NTSB/AAR-91/05 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION). ## Analysis (aircraft 1) "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED 1/17/2008." ON DECEMBER 3, 1990, AT 1345 EST, NORTHWEST FLIGHT 1482, A DC-9 (N3313L), AND NORTHWEST FLIGHT 299, A BOEING 727 (N278US), COLLIDED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF RUNWAY 09/27 AND 03C/21C IN DENSE FOG AT DETRIOT METROPOLITAN/WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT, ROMULUS, MI. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION, THE B-727 WAS ON ITS TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE DC-9 HAD JUST TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE B-727 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE DC-9 WAS DESTROYED. SEVEN OF THE 40 PASSENGERS AND 1CREWMEMBER ABOARD THE DC-9 RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. NONE OF THE 146 PASSENGERS AND 8 CREWMEMBERS ABOARD THE B-727 WERE INJURED. (SEE NTSB/AAR-91/05 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION) ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N3313L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3313L-1991-07-15), registration cancelled 1991-07-15, S/N 45708 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 45708 - Airframe hours: 62253 - Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Northwest Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Destination: PIT, PITTSBURG, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro/Wayne Cnty, runway 21C, 8,500 × 200 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N278US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N278US-2011-12-09), registration cancelled 2011-12-09, S/N 21157, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 727-251 - Registry model: [Boeing 727-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-251) (registry code 138408H) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21157 - Airframe hours: 37710 - Engines: P&W JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Northwest Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Destination: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro/Wayne Cnty, runway 3C, 8,500 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3313L; age 52; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N278US; age 42; commercial, 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: 10,400 total, 5,400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 11 knots - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DTW ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19901203052361A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901203052361A), Dec 3, 1990: Doug DC914, Detroit, MI, Destroyed, 8 fatal. Taxiing to takeoff,became lost due fog. Stopped on active runway. Struck by departing N278US.ats coordination factor - [Accident 19901203052362A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901203052362A), Dec 3, 1990: Boeing 727251, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. On takeoff roll right wing collided with N3313L that was lost in fog and stopped on runway. Aborted takeoff. 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.