# NTSB DCA94IA032: Douglas DC-9-32, N3339L, Chantilly, VA, January 28, 1994

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1994, 09:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: Chantilly, VA
- Location: 38.9445° N, 77.4558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9445&lon=-77.4558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 106 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA94IA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94IA032

## Probable cause

The flightcrew's failure to maintain directional control during a rejected takeoff.  Contributing factors were the wet and icy runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - aborted takeoff - performed, flightcrew
  - aircraft control - not maintained, flightcrew (cause)

## Analysis

On January 28, 1994, Valujet Airlines flight 61, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3339L, exited the runway during a rejected takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia.  The airplane was damaged but there were no injuries to the 5 crewmembers or 101 passengers aboard.  While on the takeoff roll on runway 01 right, the captain stated that as the airplane accelerated to about 80 knots, the airplane began to drift to the right of centerline.  The captain elected to reject the takeoff and applied reverse engine thrust, however, the airplane exited off the left side of the runway.

No additional information is available.

## Factual narrative

On January 28, 1994, Valujet Airlines flight 61, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3339L, exited the runway during a rejected takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia.  The airplane was damaged but there were no injuries to the 5 crewmembers or 101 passengers aboard.  While on the takeoff roll on runway 01 right, the captain stated that as the airplane accelerated to about 80 knots, the airplane began to drift to the right of centerline.  The captain elected to reject the takeoff and applied reverse engine thrust, however, the airplane exited off the left side of the runway.

No additional information is available.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3339L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Douglas DC-9-32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 901
- Airframe hours: 64757
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 4000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Value Jet Airlines, doing business as Valujet
- Registered owner: Valujet
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: IAD
- Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles, runway 1R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,957 total, 1,432 in this make and model, 1,480 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
- Observed at: IA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19940128004679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940128004679I), Jan 28, 1994: Doug DC932, Washington, DC. Narrative: on takeoff, at approximately 80-85 knots, the aircraft began drifting to the right of centerline. The PIC made the decision to abort the 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.

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