# NTSB FTW89IA070: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9, N447AA, Houston, TX, March 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1989, 07:48 local (13:48 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.650653, -95.280067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6507&lon=-95.2801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 98 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89IA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89IA070

## Probable cause

CREW'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW TAXI INSTRUCTIONS AND TO INSURE THAT THEY WERE ON THE PROPER RUNWAY PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - wall/barricade (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 12R, BUT A TAKEOFF WAS MADE ON RUNWAY 17. THE SOUTH 2,200 FEET OF RUNWAY 17 WAS CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. THIS WAS NOTED BY NOTAMS AND ATIS AND THE CREWMEMBERS WERE AWARE OF IT. AS THE AIRPLANE ROTATED, THE LOWER PARTS OF IT IMPACTED SECTIONS OF WOODED BARRIERS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ACROSS RUNWAY 17. THE CREW WAS IMFORMED OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE AND PROCEEDED TO DESTINATION WHERE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WAS WAITING AT LANDING. AIRPLANE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. SEVENTY THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ANOTHER AIR CARRIER AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 12R AND ALSO INADVERTENTLY DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 17.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N447AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N447AA-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 49473, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49473
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14000 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: Conn. Nat. Bank Owner & Truste
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: HOU
- Destination: DFW, DFW AIRPORT, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOU, William P. Hobby, runway 17, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 972 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOU

## 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 19890323018079I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890323018079I), Mar 23, 1989: Doug DC982, Houston, TX, Minor damage. Departed on a closed runway. Gear hit wooden barricade on rotation. Continued to destination. Landed safely.

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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