# NTSB MKC83IA083: Boeing 727-222, N7441U, Des Moines, IA, March 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1983, 06:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Des Moines, IA
- Location: 41.5340° N, 93.6631° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DES MOINES INTL (DSM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5340&lon=-93.6631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 44 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83IA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33367/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83IA083

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - radar separation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - information - inaccurate, airport personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE RIGHT LEADING EDGE SLAT WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE ACFT TAXIED ONTO A CLOSED & THUSLY MARKED TAXIWAY. THE CLOSED TAXIWAY WAS NOT SHOWN AS CLOSED ON THE CHARTS AND NO NOTAM WAS ISSUED. THE SKY WS OBSCURED & VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MILE IN FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7441U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-222
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21895
- Airframe hours: 10552
- Engines: P&W JT-8D-15 turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines, doing business as United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 23, 1983, 42 hours before
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DSM, Des Moines

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 16,931 total, 2,332 in this make and model, 7,568 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DSM

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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