# NTSB FTW89IA038: Mcdonnell Douglas DC9-30, N542TX, Baton Rouge, LA, January 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1989, 16:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place: Baton Rouge, LA
- Coordinates: 30.539451, -91.13079 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5395&lon=-91.1308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 62 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22795
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89IA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22795/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89IA038

## Probable cause

THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE FLIGHT CREW. (COPILOT WAS FLYING AND THE PIC WAS SUPERVISING).

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - runway maintenance - inadequate

## Analysis

ALTHOUGH A WITNESS STATED THE AIRLINER TOUCHED DOWN IN THE LAST 3,250 FEET OF THE 6,900 FOOT RUNWAY, THE ACTUAL TOUCHDOWN POINT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE RUNWAY WAS WET, THERE WAS A SLIGHT TAILWIND AND THE AIRPLANE WAS STOPPED 300 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE F/O WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE AND THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL AT 80 KNOTS. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, HE RECEIVED NO BRAKING ACTION. PRIOR TO THE LANDING, THE TOWER ADVISED THAT AN MD-80 HAD REPORTED THE BRAKING ACTION AS POOR. ANOTHER AIRPLINE CAPTAIN SUBMITTED A STATEMENT THAT HE HAS ENCOUNTERED POOR BRAKING ACTION ON THAT RUNWAY IN THE PAST DUE TO AN AREA OF BUILT-UP RUBBER IN THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE OF RUNWAY 04L.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N542TX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC9-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45735
- Airframe hours: 45039
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9 12600 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Texas Air Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 28, 1988, 621 hours before
- Departed: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: BTR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BTR, Metro Ryan Field, runway 22R, 6,900 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,800 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTR, 1 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).

- [Incident 19890109009589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890109009589I), Jan 9, 1989: Doug DC932, Baton Rouge, LA, Minor damage. Landed long and overshot end of runway by 238 ft. braking action poor. Copilot at controls.

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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