Douglas DC-9-32 N925L

Summary

On 19 December 1995 at about 15:11 local time, a Douglas DC-9-32 registered N925L, operated by Trans World Airlines, Inc., was involved in an incident near Saint Louis, Missouri, United States. 54 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 December 1995 at 15:11

Classification

Incident

Location

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Lambert International (STL)

Coordinates

38.9291, -94.4905

Aircraft

Douglas DC-9-32

Registration

N925L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Trans World Airlines, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hartford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96IA059

Nobody was injured.

loss of induction air into the engine inlets resulting in simultaneous loss of power on both engines. Factors relating to this incident were: disconnection of the airplane's hydraulic pumps and generators, slush on the runway and the hydroplaning condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The captain reported that on landing, after he lowered the nosewheel and applied reverse thrust, that 'something didn't sound right. It was quieter than normal.' As the airplane slowed to taxi speed, the nose started turning right. The captain put in steering controls, but the airplane continued to turn, and began to slide. The airplane stopped near the edge of the runway, 70 degrees off runway heading. The captain then realized the engines were not operating. A witness observed the airplane being 'engulfed in a cloud of snow,' as it landed. 'It sounded like it lost intake air, then became silent.' The reported weather was a 600 foot ceiling, visibility 3/8 of a mile in snow and fog, and surface winds of 360 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 27 knots. The tower reported 1/4 inch of snow on the runway and braking action as fair to poor. A witness reported slush accumulations on the runway greater than 1/4 inch. The engine manufacturer stated the potential for engine flameout exists if 1/4 inch of slush or more is ingested when the engines are at low power, as in landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.