# NTSB FTW89IA152: Boeing 727-231, N52309, Kenner, LA, August 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1989, 11:37 local (16:37 UTC)
- Place: Kenner, LA
- Coordinates: 29.989704, -90.23986 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9897&lon=-90.2399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 149 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22801
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89IA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22801/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89IA152

## Probable cause

INACCURATE OPERATORS PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES AND THE IMPROPER TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE DATA COMPUTED BY THE CAPTAIN. POOR FLIGHT CREW COORDINATION WAS CONSIDERED A FACTOR AS WELL A WRONG RUNWAY SELECTION FOR THE COMPUTED TAKEOFF DATA.

## 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
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded
  - procedures/directives - inaccurate, company/operator management (cause)
  - object - approach light/navaid
  - performance data - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - poor, flight engineer (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS DISPATCHED WITH 15 DEGREES FLAP TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE DATA FOR RUNWAY 10/28, WHICH WAS 9,228 FEET LONG. TAKEOFF ACTUALLY WAS FROM RUNWAY 19, WHICH WAS 7,000 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED FROM THE SURFACE IN THE SAFETY AREA OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A LIGHTING CONTROL BOX FOR THE RAIL SYSTEM. A PORTION OF THE LANDING GEAR SCUPPER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO ITS DESTINATION AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE FLIGHT ENGINEER FILLED IN HIS PORTION OF THE TAKEOFF DATA SHEET AND HANDED IT TO THE CAPTAIN. THE CAPTAIN ANTICIPATED THAT RUNWAY 10 WOULD BE THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AND HE PERFORMED TAKEOFF DATA CALCULATIONS USING RUNWAY 10 DATA. ATIS INFORMATION AND TAXI CLEARANCE CALLED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 19. THE OPERATOR'S PROCEDURES DID NOT ASSIGN TAKEOFF DATA CALCULATIONS TO A SPECIFIC CREW MEMBER. PROCEDURES ALSO DID NOT CALL FOR VERIFICATION OF SUCH INFORMATION BY OTHER CREW

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52309](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52309-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 19828, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-231
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-231) (registry code 1384079) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19828
- Airframe hours: 52825
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Cis Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 1989, 685 hours before
- Destination: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MSY, New Orleans Int'L, runway 19, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,214 total, 1,565 in this make and model, 551 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSY

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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