McDonnell Douglas MD-88 N907DE

Summary

On 27 December 1998 at about 01:40 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 registered N907DE was involved in an accident near Dfw Airport, Texas, United States. 50 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 December 1998 at 01:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Dfw Airport, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Dfw International Airport (DFW)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-88

Registration

N907DE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Cincinnati

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA054

1 person was seriously injured.

A passenger sustained a hairline fracture during an emergency evacuation of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew neglected to turn the ignition switch on during a delayed right engine start prior to taking the active runway for departure. During the second attempt to start the engine, an overtemp occurred and a tailpipe fire ensued. Tower personnel observed flames coming out of the exhaust stack and alerted the flight crew. The flight crew reported that they had experienced a 'hot start,' but according to their indications in the cockpit, the fire was out. The flight crew of an airplane in sequence behind the jet reported that the fire lingered in the exhaust. Personnel in the control tower confirmed that the engine was still on fire. The captain commanded an evacuation from the two doors on the left side of the airplane. All passengers were off the aircraft within 20 seconds of slide deployment. A passenger slid down the aft door slide past the awaiting crew members, twisting her right ankle. Subsequent medical reports and X-rays revealed she sustained a hairline fracture of a bone in her right ankle. The ignition and fuel systems for the right engine were inspected, no defects were found, and the airplane was returned to service.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.