# NTSB NYC02LA110: Boeing 757-232, N694DL, Fairfield, IL, June 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2002, 13:27 local (17:27 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, IL - Coordinates: 38.363334, -88.34333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3633&lon=-88.3433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 113 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA110 ## Probable cause The first officer's abrupt level off. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, descent - normal - level off - abrupt, copilot/second pilot (cause) ## Analysis The captain reported that during a descent in IMC conditions, the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) sounded "traffic, traffic, traffic." The TCAS displayed a target 700 feet below, and 15 miles ahead of the flight. However, the TCAS did not issue a resolution advisory. The flight crew could not visually identify the traffic, and the captain instructed the first officer to stop the descent. The first officer disconnected the autopilot and then "quickly" leveled the airplane. During the level off, a flight attendant fell and suffered a fractured leg. Subsequently, a review of the TCAS and check with ATC revealed that the traffic was at FL 260, not FL 270. A review of the airline's operations manual revealed that deviation from an ATC clearance was authorized for a resolution advisory. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2002, about 1327 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 757-232, N694DL, operated by Delta Airlines Inc., as flight 482, was not damaged while maneuvering near Fairfield, Illinois. The 2 certificated airline transport pilots, 108 passengers, and 3 flight attendants were not injured; however, 1 flight attendant was seriously injured, and 1 flight attendant sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver Colorado, destined for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a flight safety investigator at Delta Airlines, the airplane crossed the JDUNN intersection at flight level 290 (FL 290). Air traffic control (ATC) then cleared the flight to FL 270. The first officer was the pilot flying, the autopilot was engaged, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. The captain stated that during the descent, at 27,700 feet, the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) sounded "traffic, traffic, traffic," and displayed a target approximately 15 miles ahead and 700 feet below. No resolution advisory (RA) was received, but the flight was in instrument meteorological conditions and the flight crew was unable to visually identify the traffic. The captain then instructed the first officer to stop the descent. The first officer stated the he "quickly" leveled the airplane. Subsequently, a review of the TCAS and check with ATC revealed that the traffic was at FL 260, not FL 270. During the level off, a flight attendant fell and suffered a fractured leg. The airplane landed uneventfully at CVG, and the flight attendant was transported to a local hospital. A review of Delta Airline's 757/767 operations manual revealed that deviation from an ATC clearance was authorized for an RA only. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N694DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N694DL), registered now, S/N 29726, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757-232 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-232) (registry code 1384965) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2037](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2037) (registry code 52117, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29726 - Airframe hours: 12206 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney PW2037 37000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 29, 2002 - Departed: DEN, Fairfield, IL - Destination: CVG, Covington, KY - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review December 16, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 2,204 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 13, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 11,923 total, 1,275 in this make and model, 134 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: ENL, 40 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). - [Accident 20020602016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020602016119A), Jun 2, 2002: Boeing 757232, Covington/Cinci, KY, No damage. (-23) DL482 den-cvg. While descending in IMC from FL290 to FL270 over fairfield, IL, TCAS sounded "traffic, traffic," and indicated conflicting traffic about… ## Other investigations on N694DL (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA23WA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23WA241), Apr 17, 2023: Boeing 757-232 (N694DL), Mexico City, Mexico, incident, minor damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54895. 641 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 531 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt from Operations Manual (item 2, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Operations%20Manual-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.