MIA88IA055

NTSB incident investigation · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 · Newark, NJ · November 1, 1987

Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal report
Date
November 1, 1987, 17:12 local (22:12 UTC)
Place
Newark, NJ
Injuries
226 uninjured
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N806NYMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82N577PEBoeing 727-243
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 12, 1988
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
32048

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Near collision between aircraftTakeoff - initial climb
Control tower service - inadequateAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause
Visual separation - improper use ofAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause
Traffic advisory - delayedAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause
Near collision between aircraftApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Control tower service - inadequateAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause
Visual separation - improper use ofAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause
Traffic advisory - delayedAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Cause

Analysis

At 1710:53 EST, the LCL twr ctlr (lc) at the Newark intl arpt clrd Continental flt 321 (DC-9-82, N806NY) for takeoff on rwy 22L; 11 sec later, Continental flt 688 (Boeing 727, N577PE) rprtd 'left downwind for rwy 29.' Lc told flt 688 to 'maintain 1500 as you cross over the field.' Rwy 22L (9300' long) was located south of rwy 29; thus, the left downwind for rwy 29 was nr the dep end of rwy 22L. At 1712:12, lc told flt 321 that flt 688 was passing 'overhead & behind you at 1800' . . .' At about that time, the crew of flt 321 noted they were clbg thru 1000' when they saw flt 688 passing directly overhead. The capt of flt 688 saw flt 321 taking off & estd the sepn remained in excess of 1000', but the capt of flt 321 was concerned about the close proximity & called the twr after lndg. Radar data showed the planes passed withaprx 400' vertical & 1000' lateral sepn, aprx 1/4 mi south of the arpt. Both flts were operg on IFR flt plans. Lc did not adz either flt crew of their traffic until 1712:12, moments bfr their flt paths crossed. The arpt had hvy traffic.

At 1710:53 EST, the LCL twr ctlr (lc) at the Newark intl arpt clrd Continental flt 321 (DC-9-82, N806NY) for takeoff on rwy 22L; 11 sec later, Continental flt 688 (Boeing 727, N577PE) rprtd 'left downwind for rwy 29.' Lc told flt 688 to 'maintain 1500 as you cross over the field.' Rwy 22L (9300' long) was located south of rwy 29; thus, the left downwind for rwy 29 was nr the dep end of the 22L. At 1712:12, lc told flt 321 that flt 688 was passing 'overhead & behind you at 1800' . . .' At about that time, the crew of flt 321 noted they were clbg thru 1000' when they saw flt 688 passing directly overhead. The capt of flt 688 saw flt 321 taking off & estd the sepn remained in excess of 1000', but the capt of flt 321 was concerned about the close proximity & called the twr after lndg. Radar data showed the planes passed withaprx 400' vertical & 1000' lateral sepn, aprx 1/4 mi south of the arpt. Both flts were operg on IFR flt plans. Lc did not adz either flt crew of their traffic until 1712:12, moments bfr their flt paths crossed. The arpt had hvy traffic.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N806NY
Reported as
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82
Category
Airplane
Serial number
49260
Engine
P&W JT8D-217, 20,850 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Continental Airlines
Registered owner
Newyork Airlines Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Destination
IAD · Washington, DC
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark Intl, runway 22L, 9,300 × 150 ft, asphalt
Registration
N577PE
Reported as
Boeing 727-243
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21270
Engine
P&W JT8D, 15,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Continental Airlines Inc.
Registered owner
Connecticut Nat'L Bank
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
SYR · Syracuse, NY
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark Intl, runway 29, 6,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N806NY
Age
37
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
8,000 total
Role
Pilot, aircraft N577PE
Age
42
Certificates
Flight engineer, 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
8,800 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
EWK