# NTSB MIA90IA038: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51, N404EA, Tallahassee, FL, December 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1989, 12:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.430734, -84.259109 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4307&lon=-84.2591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 34 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90IA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA038

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE FIRST OFFICER TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING, AND THE CAPTAIN'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FIRST OFFICER, WHO WAS FLYING THE ILS APPROACH, NEVER ESTABLISHED THE AIRPLANE ON THE CENTERLINE AND 'CHASED' THE LOCALIZER NEEDLE. THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 250 FEET AGL AND ATTEMPTED A SIDE STEP MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A LEFT BANK AND THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N404EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404EA-1991-08-02), registration cancelled 1991-08-02, S/N 47665 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-51
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-51) (registry code 3022051) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 37533
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: TLH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TLH, Tallahassee, runway 27, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,224 total, 3,084 in this make and model, 2,330 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH

## 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 19891208064309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891208064309I), Dec 8, 1989: Doug DC951, Tallahassee, FL, Minor damage. Broke out of clouds to right of centerline. Left wing struck runway when tried to realign to center of runway.

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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