# NTSB DCA96MA054: Douglas DC-9-32, N904VJ, Miami, FL, May 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: May 11, 1996, 14:13 local (18:13 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Location: 25.8178° N, 80.5784° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about 5 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8178&lon=-80.5784&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 110 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 11009 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA96MA054.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11009/pdf - Board report AAR9706 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9706.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA96MA054 ## Probable cause which resulted from a fire in the airplane's class D cargo compartment that was initiated by the actuation of one or more oxygen generators being improperly carried as cargo, were (1) the failure of SabreTech to properly prepare, package, and identify unexpended chemical oxygen generators before presenting them to ValuJet for carriage; (2) the failure of ValuJet to properly oversee its contract maintenance program to ensure compliance with maintenance, maintenance training, and hazardous materials requirements and practices; and (3) the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require smoke detection and fire suppression systems in class D cargo compartments. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the FAA to adequately monitor ValuJet's heavy maintenance programs and responsibilities, including ValuJet's oversight of its contractors, and SabreTech's repair station certificate; the failure of the FAA to adequately respond to prior chemical oxygen generator fires with programs to address the potential hazards; and ValuJet's failure to ensure that both ValuJet and contract maintenance facility employees were aware of the carrier's 'no-carry' hazardous materials policy and had received appropriate hazardous materials training. (NTSB Report AAR-97/06) ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, climb - hazardous material - improper (cause) - procedure inadequate, other person (cause) - cargo/baggage - improper (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, company/operator management (cause) - smoke detector(s) - not installed (cause) - fire extinguisher,cargo - not installed (cause) - insufficient standards/requirements, faa(organization) (cause) - fuselage,cargo compartment - fire - Loss of control - in flight, descent - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane crashed into the Everglades about 10 minutes after takeoff from Miami International Airport. Safety issues discussed in the Board's report include minimization of the hazards posed by fires in class D cargo compartments; equipment, training, and procedures for addressing in-flight smoke and fire aboard air carrier airplanes; guidance for handling of chemical oxygen generators and other hazardous aircraft components; SabreTech's and ValuJet's procedures for handling company materials and hazardous materials; ValuJet's oversight of its contract heavy maintenance facilities; FAA's oversight of ValuJet and ValuJet's contract maintenance facilities; FAA's and the Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) hazardous materials program and undeclared hazardous materials in the U.S. mail; and ValuJet's procedures for boarding and accounting for lap children. Safety recommendations concerning these issues were made to the FAA, RSPA, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Air Transport Association. (See NTSB Report AAR-97/06) ## Factual narrative Please refer to the National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB/AAR-97/06, DCA96MA054, for information about this accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N904VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N904VJ-1997-03-17), registration cancelled 1997-03-17, S/N 47377 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Douglas DC-9-32 - Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-32) (registry code 3022066) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47377 - Airframe hours: 2864 - Engines: P&W JT8D-9A turbo fan - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Valujet Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Valujet Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MIA, MIAMI, FL - Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIA, Miami Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,928 total, 2,116 in this make and model, 188 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 52; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Observed at: MIA, 18 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 19960511010159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960511010159A), May 11, 1996: Doug DC932, Miami, FL, Destroyed, 110 fatal. Aircraft crashed in everglades on return to airport, delcared emergency, smoke in aircraft. (.4)the airplane crashed into the everglades about 10 minutes after… 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.