# NTSB NYC91LA021: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31, N972VJ, Columbus, OH, October 29, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1990, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Columbus, OH - Location: 39.9612° N, 82.9988° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbus, OH, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9612&lon=-82.9988&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 49 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA021 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE BY PILOTS OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND ALTER TAXI PATH TO AVOID THE STANDING AIRCRAFT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE DC-9 PILOTS FAILED TO SEE THE CESSNA 310 AND ALTER THEIR TAXI PATH TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE. ## 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 - identification of aircraft visually - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) - crew/group coordination - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating - identification of aircraft visually - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AS THE DC-9 APPROACHED TAXIWAY C-4 THE CAPTAIN WAS ADVISED BY THE FIRST OFFICER THERE WAS A AIRPLANE OFF TO THEIR ELEVEN O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CAPTAIN APPLIED BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF A CESSNA 310. THE DC-9 CAPTAIN SAID HE DID NOT SEE ANY LIGHTS ON THE CESSNA. THE CESSNA PILOT SAID HE WAS SITTING IN POSITION TO TAKE THE RUNWAY FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE WITH HIS ROTATING BEACON AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS ON. THE FAA DETERMINED THE DISTANCE FROM THE HOLD LINE ON TAXIWAY C-4 TO THE CENTER LINE OF THE TAXIWAY WAS 90'. HALF THE WIDTH OF THE DC-9 AND THE LENGTH OF THE CESSNA, PLUS THE 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE (CESSNA'S POSITION), LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR SEPARATION OF THE AIRPLANES. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) AS THE DC-9 APPROACHED TAXIWAY C-4 THE CAPTAIN WAS ADVISED BY THE FIRST OFFICER THERE WAS A AIRPLANE OFF TO THEIR ELEVEN O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CAPTAIN APPLIED BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF A CESSNA 310. THE DC-9 CAPTAIN SAID HE DID NOT SEE ANY LIGHTS ON THE CESSNA. THE CESSNA PILOT SAID HE WAS SITTING IN POSITION TO TAKE THE RUNWAY FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE WITH HIS ROTATING BEACON AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS ON. THE FAA DETERMINED THE DISTANCE FROM THE HOLD LINE ON TAXIWAY C-4 TO THE CENTER LINE OF THE TAXIWAY WAS 90'. HALF THE WIDTH OF THE DC-9 AND THE LENGTH OF THE CESSNA, PLUS THE 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE (CESSNA'S POSITION), LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR SEPARATION OF THE AIRPLANES. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N972VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N972VJ-2001-03-05), registration cancelled 2001-03-05, S/N 47052 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-31 - Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: P&W JT8D-7A 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Usair, doing business as Usair - Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Port Columbus, runway 10R ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6160X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6160X-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 310R1305, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310 - Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M1B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: New Creation Inc, doing business as US Check - Departed: CMH - Destination: DAY, DAYTON, OH - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Port Columbus, runway 10R ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N972VJ; age 32; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N6160X; age 24; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 2,091 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CMH ## 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 19901029061481A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901029061481A), Oct 29, 1990: Doug DC931, Columbus, OH, Minor damage. Struck tail of N6160X while taxiing for takeoff. The 310 was holding on adjoining taxiway. Narrow taxi clearance. - [Accident 19901029061482A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901029061482A), Oct 29, 1990: Cessna 310R, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. While holding for takeoff wing of a taxiing DC9 N972VJ struck vertical stabilizer. DC9 taxiing on adjacent taxiway. 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.