Narrative:Northwest Flight 255 departed Saginaw for a flight to Detroit, Phoenix and Santa Ana, arriving at Detroit (DTW) at 19:42. Pushback for departure was accomplished at 20:34 and the crew received taxi instructions for runway 3C. During the taxi out, the captain missed the turnoff at taxiway C and new taxi instructions were given. At 20:42 Flight 255 was told to taxi into position on runway 3C and hold, followed by a takeoff clearance two minutes later. Shortly after rotation the stick shaker (stall warning) activated. The aircraft rolled left and right and the left wing struck a light pole in a car rental lot. Flight 255 continued to roll to the left, continued across the car lot, struck a light pole in a second rental car lot and struck the side wall of the roof in a 90deg left wing down attitude. The plane was still rolling to the left when it impacted the ground on a road outside the airport boundary and continued to slide along the road, striking a railroad embankment, disintegrating and bursting into flames.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crew's failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for take-off. Contributing the the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane take-off warning system which thus did not warn the flight crew that the airplane was not configured properly for take-off. The reason for the absence of electrical power could not be determined."
Events:
Sources:
» NTSB/AAR-88/05
Official accident investigation report
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 8 Safety Recommendations
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-064 |
| CONDUCT A DIRECTED SAFETY INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE RELIABILITY OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH FAILURES INTERNAL TO THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS CAN DISABLE OPERATING SYSTEMS AND TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AS NECESSARY. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-065 |
| REQUIRE THE MODIFICATION OF THE DC-9-80 SERIES AIRPLANES TO ILLUMINATE THE EXISTING CENTRAL AURAL WARNING SYSTEM (CAWS) FAIL LIGHT ON THE OVERHEAD ANNUNCIATOR PANEL IN THE EVENT OF CAWS INPUT CIRCUIT POWER LOSS SO THAT THE AIRPLANE CONFORMS TO THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION CONFIGURATION. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-066 |
| DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF CENTRAL AURAL WARNING SYSTEMS TO INCLUDE A DETERMINATION OF THE WARNING TO BE PROVIDED, THE CRITICALITY OF THE PROVIDED WARNING, AND THE DEGREE OF SYSTEM SELF-MONITORING. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-067 |
| REQUIRE THAT ALL PARTS 121 AND 135 OPERATORS AND PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS INSPECTORS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINED APPLICATION OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND, IN PARTICULAR, EMPHASIZE RIGOROUS ADHERENCE TO PRESCRIBED CHECKLIST PROCEDURES. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-068 |
| CONVENE A HUMAN PERFORMANCE RESEARCH GROUP OF PERSONNEL FROM THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, INDUSTRY, AND PILOT GROUPS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OR METHOD OF PRESENTING A CHECKLIST WHICH PRODUCES BETTER PERFORMANCE ON THE PART OF USER PERSONNEL. (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-069 |
| EXPEDITE THE ISSUANCE OF GUIDANCE MATERIALS FOR USE BY PARTS 121 AND 135 OPERATORS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEAM-ORIENTED FLIGHTCREW TRAINING TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS COCKPIT RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, LINE-ORIENTED FLIGHT TRAINING, OR OTHER TECHNIQUES WHICH EMPHASIZE CREW COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: FAA |
A-88-070 |
| ISSUE AN AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS BULLETIN-PART 121 DIRECTING ALL PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS INSPECTORS TO EMPHASIZE IN MD-80 INITIAL AND RECURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS ON STALL AND WINDSHEAR RECOVERY THE AIRPLANE\'S LATERAL CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL LOSS OF CLIMB CAPABILITY, SIMULATOR LIMITATIONS, AND FLIGHT GUIDANCE SYSTEM LIMITATIONS WHEN OPERATING NEAR THE SUPPLEMENTAL STALL RECOGNITION SYSTEM ACTIVATION POINT (STALL ANGLE OF ATTACK). (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action) |
| Issued: 27-JUN-1988 |
To: ALL PART 121 AIR CARRIERS |
A-88-071 |
| REVIEW INITIAL AND RECURRENT FLIGHTCREW TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT THEY INCLUDE SIMULATOR OR AIRCRAFT TRAINING EXERCISES WHICH INVOLVE COCKPIT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ACTIVE COORDINATION OF ALL CREWMEMBER TRAINEES AND WHICH WILL PERMIT EVALUATION OF CREW PERFORMANCE AND ADHERENCE TO THOSE CREW COORDINATION PROCEDURES. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Show all AD's and Safety Recommendations
Photos
Flight path and cvr extracts
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW) to Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX) as the crow flies is 2665 km (1666 miles).
Books
United States of America
