# NTSB MIA88NA070: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N8948E, Pensacola, FL, December 28, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1987, 23:39 local (Dec 28, 1987, 05:39 UTC)
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Coordinates: 30.469459, -87.190269 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4695&lon=-87.1903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor, 103 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1989
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88NA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88NA070

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - terrain condition - downhill
  - airport facilities,visual apch slope ind(vasi) - unavailable
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - not performed (contributing factor)
  - flight/navigation instrument(s) - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8948E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8948E-1988-06-06), registration cancelled 1988-06-06, S/N 47184 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47184
- Airframe hours: 55645
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Air Lines
- Registered owner: Eastern Air Lines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 13, 1987, 99 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: PNS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PNS, Pensacola Regional, runway 16, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PNS

## 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 19871227073249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871227073249A), Dec 27, 1987: Doug DC931, Pensacola, FL, Substantial damage. Flew thru small weather cell on final for runway. Failed to check high descent rate,landed hard. Broke aft fuselage

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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