McDonnell Douglas MD-88 N918DL

Summary

On 12 November 1996 at about 02:30 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 registered N918DL, operated by Delta Airlines, was involved in an incident near Cleveland, Ohio, United States. 118 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

12 November 1996 at 02:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Cleveland Hopkins Int Apt (CLE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-88

Registration

N918DL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Delta Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD97IA020

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to follow checklist procedures and extend the spoilers.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before landing, the flight crew was advised and acknowledged that the braking action on the runway was reported as 'fair.' After landing, the first officer selected reverse thrust to slow the airplane. The crew then noticed that the airplane was not slowing normally. The captain assumed control of the airplane, applied maximum braking and reverse thrust; however, the airplane continued off the departure end of the runway. Measurements taken immediately after the incident indicated braking action for the runway was 38 (fair), 23 (poor), and 27 (poor). Review of the flight data recorder revealed that the spoilers remained retracted at touchdown and during rollout to zero airspeed. According to the MD-80 Flight Crew Operating Manual, 'When armed, the automatic brake system (ABS) will automatically apply brakes during landing and takeoff modes of flight. ABS landing mode is activated when spoilers are deployed either automatically or manually.' The Abnormal Flight Profiles section of the Pilots Reference Manual stated, 'Ground spoilers significantly increase brake effectiveness. In order to achieve a maximum performance stop, ensure that ground spoilers have extended.' Review of the Delta Airlines MD-80/90 Normal Checklist revealed that it was the duty of the 'pilot not flying' to ensure that spoilers were in the 'ARM' position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.