McDonnell Douglas DC-9 N447AA

Summary

On 23 March 1989 at about 13:48 local time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 registered N447AA, operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident near Houston, Texas, United States. 98 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 1989 at 13:48

Classification

Incident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

William P. Hobby (HOU)

Coordinates

29.6507, -95.2801

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas DC-9

Registration

N447AA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

American Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Dfw Airport

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89IA070

Nobody was injured.

CREW'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW TAXI INSTRUCTIONS AND TO INSURE THAT THEY WERE ON THE PROPER RUNWAY PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 12R, BUT A TAKEOFF WAS MADE ON RUNWAY 17. THE SOUTH 2,200 FEET OF RUNWAY 17 WAS CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. THIS WAS NOTED BY NOTAMS AND ATIS AND THE CREWMEMBERS WERE AWARE OF IT. AS THE AIRPLANE ROTATED, THE LOWER PARTS OF IT IMPACTED SECTIONS OF WOODED BARRIERS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ACROSS RUNWAY 17. THE CREW WAS IMFORMED OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE AND PROCEEDED TO DESTINATION WHERE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WAS WAITING AT LANDING. AIRPLANE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. SEVENTY THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ANOTHER AIR CARRIER AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 12R AND ALSO INADVERTENTLY DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 17.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.