# NTSB NYC90IA050: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51, N405EA, Philadelphia, PA, January 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1990, 06:47 local (11:47 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Coordinates: 39.890823, -75.230941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8908&lon=-75.2309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 44 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90IA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36556/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90IA050

## Probable cause

THE FLIGHT CREW OF EAL121 TAKING OFF ON A TAXIWAY. CONTRIBUTING WAS FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CREW OF EAL 121 TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAXI AND TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - roll/run
  - light condition - dusk
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)

## Analysis

THE DC 9 WAS OBSERVED TO TAKEOFF ON A TAXIWAY BY PERSONNEL IN THE CONTROL TOWER. THE TAKEOFF WAS CORROBORATED BY RADAR DATA FROM THE AIRPORT AND A READOUT OF THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER. THE TAKEOFF OCCURRED JUST PRIOR TO THE START OF CIVIL TWILIGHT IN THE MORNING. THE RUNWAY HAS WHITE CENTERLINE MARKINGS, WHITE EDGE LIGHTING, AND WHITE MARKINGS. THE TAXIWAY HAD YELLOW MARKINGS AND GREEN CENTERLINE LIGHTING. THE CAPTAIN SAID HE REMEMBERED WHITE CENTERLINE LIGHTING. THE COPILOT SAID HE SAW THE CENTERLINE LIGHTS AND BELIEVED THEY WERE WHITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N405EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N405EA-2000-12-04), registration cancelled 2000-12-04, S/N 47688 (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
- Serial number: 47688
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PHL, Philadelphia

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHL

## 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 19900118064819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900118064819I), Jan 18, 1990: Doug DC951, Philadelphia, PA. Tookoff on taxiway instead of runway. Pilot claims takeoff on runway. Controller reported takeoff was on taxiway.

## Other investigations on N405EA (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 MIA83IA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83IA165), Jun 26, 1983: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51 (N405EA), Tampa, FL, incident, minor damage

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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