Douglas DC-9 N300ME

Summary

On 15 January 1999 at about 16:20 local time, a Douglas DC-9 registered N300ME was involved in an accident near Plainfield, Pennsylvania, United States. 60 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

15 January 1999 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Plainfield, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.2000, -77.2803

Aircraft

Douglas DC-9

Registration

N300ME

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milwaukee → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA050

1 person was seriously injured.

The wake turbulence from the proceeding Boeing 747.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The DC-9 departed and climbed to flight level 290. About 1 hour and 35 minutes after departure, the airplane was cleared by ATC to 17,000 feet msl. Upon receiving the clearance, the captain initiated approximately a 3,500 foot per minute descent, and slowed to 280 knots. While in the descent and passing flight level 235, the airplane encountered the wake turbulence of a cargo Boeing 747, which was 12 nautical miles ahead and also descending to 17,000 feet msl. The captain of the DC-9 pitched the airplane's nose up to exit the wake turbulence, and requested additional separation between the two airplanes from ATC. During the wake turbulence encounter, a flight attendant in the galley slipped, and seriously injured her right ankle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.