# NTSB LAX83IA257: Douglas DC-9-31, N943N, Luke Afb, AZ, May 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1983, 08:39 local (15:39 UTC)
- Place: Luke Afb, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.53038, -112.379165 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5304&lon=-112.3792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 86 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23588
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83IA257
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23588/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83IA257

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - disabled (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH 31,600 FT THE MASTER CAUTION & THE RIGHT 'INLET FUEL PRESSURE LOW' LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FUELQUANTITY TRANSFER CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FOUND TRIPPED, & WHEN RESET THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED TO ALBUQUERQUE ARTC CENTER & THE FLT WAS VECTORED TO LUKE AFB. THE RIGHT ENG FLAMED OUT AT 24,000 FT & RESTARTED AT 10,000 FT. THE ACFT LANDED AT LUKE AFB WITH BOTH ENGS OPERATING. AFTER BOTH ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN, THE APU CONTINUED TO OPERATE FOR ABOUT 20 MIN BEFORE IT SHUT DOWN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. 4-5/8 GALS OF FUEL REMAINED ABOARD THEACFT. THE FLT HAD DEPARTED PHOENIX FOR FRESNO ON 5/27 WITH 15,000 LBS OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS ADDED AT FRESNO BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGES READ 15,000 LBS. WITH THE FUEL QUANTITY TRANSFER CIRCUIT BREAKER OUT, THE FUEL GAUGES WILL STAY IN THE POSITION THEY WERE IN WHEN POWER IS LOST; HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGES WILL NOT TEST WHEN THE PRESS-TO-TEST BUTTON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DEPRESSED. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT'S FUEL QUANTITY INDICATING SYSTEM WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N943N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N943N-2013-11-19), registration cancelled 2013-11-19, S/N 47647, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-32) (registry code 302206C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47647
- Airframe hours: 20465
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Republic Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 27, 1983, 8 hours before
- Departed: FAT, FRESNO, CA
- Destination: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LUF, Luke Afb, runway 3R, 9,910 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 26,150 total, 5,650 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LUF, 63 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 19830528032339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830528032339I), May 28, 1983: Doug DC931, Phoenix, AZ. Aircraft made an emergency landing at Luke Afb. Due to fuel exhaustion. Captain failed to question fuel load.

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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