# NTSB FTW96LA111: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, N957DL, Denver, CO, February 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 4, 1996, 16:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.850791, -104.700622 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8508&lon=-104.7006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 119 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA111 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed to properly flare the airplane during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The captain said he flew what he considered to be a normal, stabilized approach, using 28 degrees of flaps and a Vref speed of 133 knots plus 5 knots. He flared the airplane over the runway and realized the sink rate was not being arrested as desired. He made a more 'aggressive' pull on the control yoke while advancing the thrust levers a 'significant amount.' The airplane landed hard, sustaining substantial damage. DFDR readout disclosed that the airspeed remained above Vref+5 knots until, at a radio altimeter altitude of 238 feet, it was 138.75 knots; thereafter, it began to drop. When the airplane touched down on the runway, airspeed was 124.75 knots, and the pitch attitude was 10.62 degrees nose up. There was a +5.54 'G' vertical acceleration spike. ## Factual narrative On February 4, 1996, at 1647 mountain standard time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N957DL, operated by Delta Air Lines, Inc., as flight 1879, scheduled domestic passenger service under Title 14 CFR Part 121, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Denver International Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The captain, first officer, two flight attendants, and 115 passengers were not injured, but one flight attendant did sustain a minor injury. The flight originated at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, approximately 1 hour, 44 minutes before the accident. According to the captain's statement, he flew what he considered to be a normal, stabilized approach, using 28 degrees of flaps and a VREF speed of 133 knots plus 5 knots. He flared the airplane over the runway and realized the sink rate was not being arrested as desired. He made a more "aggressive" pull on the control yoke while advancing the thrust levers "a significant amount. A very firm touchdown occurred." Examination disclosed damage to the tail bumper and wrinkled skin. Readout of the airplane's digital flight data recorder (DFDR) disclosed subframes 1584 through 1589 contained the accident data, with subframe 1587 containing the runway contact data. The readout showed airspeed remained above VREF+5 up until subframe 1568, when, at a radio altimeter altitude of 238 feet, it was at 138.75 knots; thereafter, it began to drop. When the airplane touched down on the runway, airspeed was 124.75 knots, and the pitch attitude was 10.62 degrees nose up. There was a +5.54 vertical acceleration spike (see attached DFDR factual report). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N957DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N957DL-2021-02-12), registration cancelled 2021-02-12, S/N 49976, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-88 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688) (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: 49976 - Airframe hours: 16529 - Engines: P&W JT8D-219 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 17, 1996, 128 hours before - Departed: DFW, DFW AIRPORT, TX - Destination: DEN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International, runway 35L, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,954 total, 4,515 in this make and model, 186 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 12 °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). - [Accident 19960204047649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960204047649A), Feb 4, 1996: Doug MD88, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Delta flt 1879 made a hard landing at Denver at 1647 MST. One crewmember (fa) complained of neck pain. She was examined at a local hospital and released.… 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.