# NTSB DEN84IA023: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3512T, Denver, CO, November 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1983, 09:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.7397, -104.860961 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7397&lon=-104.8610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 53 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16267
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84IA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16267/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84IA023

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - slush covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,instrument approach lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - slush covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway lighting - not operating (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

APPROACHING FROM THE EAST THERE ARE 4 PARALLEL 'STRIPS' AT THE ARPT. FROM L TO R THEY ARE RWY 26L, TAXIWAY 'CHARLIE' RWY 26R & RWY 25. RWY 26L & TAXIWAY CHARLIE ARE THE SAME LENGTH. ALL 4 ARE CONCRETE COVERED. THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO LANDON RWY 26R. RWY 26L WAS BEING USED FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACHES. ABOUT 2 INCHES OF SNOW HAD FALLEN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. SNOWREMOVAL EQUIP'T HAD CLEARED RWY 26L, RWY 26R & TAXIWAY CHARLIE BUT ALL RWYS & TAXIWAYS WERE 60-75% COVERED WITH UP TO 1/8 INCH OF MELTING SLUSH. THE CREW STATED THEY SAW WHAT APPEARED TO THEM TO BE 3 SNOW PLOWED RWYS AHEAD OF THEM: RWY 26L, 26R & 25. THEY LANDED ON THE MIDDLE STRIP. THE 3 'RWYS' THEY SAW WERE IN FACT 26L, TAXIWAY CHARLIE & 26R. THE TAXIWAY THEY HAD LANDED ON HAS A LOAD BEARING WEIGHT OF 700,000 LBS. THE RWY LIGHTS, TAXIWAY LIGHTS & ALL LIGHTING ASSOCIATED WITH THE RWYS & THE APPROACH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RWY 26R VASI LIGHTS, HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE CREW AGREEDDURING FINAL THAT THEY WERE LINED UP WITH RWY 26R & COMMENTED THAT THE GLARE WAS '...REAL BAD...'

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3512T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4811
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Texas International Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton International, runway 26R, 7,926 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 247 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN

## 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 19831109069059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831109069059I), Nov 9, 1983: Doug DC9*, Denver, CO. Landed on taxiway instead of runway pilots stated they were confused due to snow glaze. Runways covered by slush.

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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