# NTSB NYC87MA236: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-63, N951R, Newburgh, NY, August 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1987, 06:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Newburgh, NY
- Coordinates: 41.499542, -74.02069 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4995&lon=-74.0207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87MA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30748/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87MA236

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - atc clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE WX WAS DETERIORATING AS AIRBORNE EXPRESS FLT 124 & ROSENBALM FLT 074 WERE ON SUCCESSIVE ARRIVALS FOR AN ILS RWY 9 APCH. FLT 124 WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH & LNDD. AFTER LNDG, THE LCL CTLR (L/C) INSTRUCTED FLT 124 TO BACK TAXI ON THE RWY & RPRT WHEN CLR OF THE RWY. THE L/C ADZD BOSTON CENTER WHEN FLT 124 ARRIVED & FLT 074 WAS CLRD FOR THE ILS 9 APCH. RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & FLT 074 WAS INSTRUCTED TO CTC THE TOWER. FLT 074 ADZD TOWER, 'WITH YOU ON FINAL FOR 9.'  THE L/C INSTRUCTED FLT 074 TO RPRT THE OUTER MARKER (OM), THEN CONTD WITH A LENGTHY TRANSMISSION (TMTN) TO THE CREW. DRG THIS TMTN, THE CREW ATMTD TO ADZ THE L/C THAT THEY WERE INSIDE THE OM. THIS TMTN WAS NOT RCVD BY THE L/C. WHEN THE L/C FINISHED TMTG, THE FLT CREW DIDN'T ATMT TO ALERT THE L/C OF THEIR PSN, NOR DID THEY RCV A LNDG CLNC. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT CONVERGED AS FLT 074 WAS FLARING TO LND & FLT 124 WAS EXITING THE RWY. BOTH CREWS TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT THE WING OF THE LNDG ACFT (FLT 074) HIT THE EMPENNAGE OF FLT 124.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N951R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N951R-2004-02-19), registration cancelled 2004-02-19, S/N 46092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-8-63
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-63](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-8-63) (registry code 302198B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46092
- Airframe hours: 3869
- Engines: P&W JT3D 19000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Rosenbalm Aviation
- Registered owner: Connecticut National Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: DAY, DAYTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SWF, Stewart Intl, runway 9, 11,818 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N908AX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N908AX-2016-03-31), registration cancelled 2016-03-31, S/N 47008, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 302206A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47008
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ILN, WILMINGTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SWF, Stewart Intl, runway 9, 11,818 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N951R; age 56; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,850 total, 150 in this make and model, 12,575 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N908AX; age 40; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,457 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,750 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SWF

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870820079082A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870820079082A), Aug 20, 1987: Doug DC863, Newburgh, NY, Substantial damage. Cleared back taxi on runway after landing. On turn off tail was hit by landing DC9 N908AX. ATC failed advise DC9.
- [Accident 19870820079081A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870820079081A), Aug 20, 1987: Doug DC931, Newburgh, NY, Substantial damage. On landing wing hit tail of N951R that was turning off runway after back taxi. ATC and DC9 crew failed alert same.

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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