# NTSB DEN85FA040: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-30, N942, Denver, CO, December 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1984, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.7401, -104.859245 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7401&lon=-104.8592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 103 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16518/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA040

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air
  - seat belt sign - selected, pilot in command
  - weather condition - mountain wave (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV TO MINNEAPOLIS, MN AT FL330, THE ACFT HAD BEEN IN SMOOTH AIR FOR AT LEAST 30 MIN WHEN CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE (CAT) WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE FLT CREW TURNED ON THE 'FASTEN SEAT BELT' SIGN. A FLT ATTENDANT, ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE INTO A REAR CABIN FOLDING SEAT, WAS THROWN FROM THE SEAT & SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY. THE PLT MADE AN UNEVENTFUL NON-SCHEDULED LANDING AT DENVER, CO. THERE WAS NO FORCAST FOR CAT AT FL330, ALTHO 'CHOP' HAD BEEN REPORTED AT LOWER ALTITUDES. LATER, THE AIRCREWS OF 2 OTHER ACFT REPORTED MOUNTAIN WAVE ACTIVITY & A 30 TO 60 KT LOSS OF AIRSPEED IN THAT VICINITY. THE NATIONAL WX SERVICE ISSUED AN ADVISORY, EFFECTIVE AT 1110 TO 1300 MST, TO ADVISE PLTS OF LOCALLY SEVERE TURBULENCE WITH MOUNTAIN WAVE ACTIVITY BETWEEN FL310 & FL450 DUE TO STRONG WESTERLY WINDS ALOFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N942 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 920
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Republic Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24,770 total, 4,695 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN

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.