MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-87 (MD-87)

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 19, 2021, at 1000 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-87 (MD87) airplane, N987AK, owned and operated by 987 Investments LLC, overran the departure end of runway 36 at Houston Executive Airport (TME), Brookshire, Texas, after the flight crew executed a rejected takeoff. (All times in this report are central daylight time unless otherwise indicated.) Of the 19 passengers and 4 crewmembers on board the airplane, 2 passengers received serious injuries, and 1 passenger received a minor injury. A postcrash fire ensured, and the airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was operated under Part 91 and was destined for Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airport (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts.
The captain and the first officer accepted the accident flight as contract work while they were off duty from their primary employer, Everts Air Cargo, a Part 121 air cargo operator headquartered in Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was based at TME and kept parked on the ramp, and it had not been flown since April 26, 2021. The captain had flown the airplane on its last trip (and numerous other trips); the first officer had not flown it before. According to the captain, they used an Everts quick reference handbook and checklist for the airplane.
On the day of the accident, the captain and the first officer arrived at the airport about 0800. The first officer performed the preflight exterior inspection of the airplane, which included a visual check of the elevators, and he noted no anomalies. An airframe and powerplant mechanic who worked for 987 Investments (and was a crewmember on board the accident flight) said he performed an exterior walk-around of the airplane, and he noted no anomalies.
The CVR began recording about 0928:50 and captured that the captain, who was the pilot flying, and the first officer, who was the pilot monitoring, discussed various checks and procedures while the passengers boarded. The CVR captured that the captain told the first officer that they would be using normal Everts procedures. The captain briefed the rejected takeoff procedures, during which he stated that they would reject the takeoff after V1 “only if the airplane won’t fly.” (V1, also known as the decision speed, is defined, in part, as the maximum speed by which a rejected takeoff must be initiated to ensure that the airplane can be stopped on the remaining runway.)
The captain and the first officer subsequently started the engines, and, at 0952:33, the TME air traffic controller provided their clearance to taxi to runway 36. According to the first officer, as the captain taxied the airplane, the first officer conducted a flight control check, which included pushing the control column all the way forward then pulling it all the way back and turning the yoke left and right. (The FDR recorded data consistent with a control check being performed during taxi.) The first officer noted no anomalies during the control check.
The TME air traffic controller cleared the flight for takeoff about 0959. Shortly after, the CVR captured the captain’s callout that the takeoff thrust was set and the first officer’s acknowledgement then confirmation that the engine and instrument indications were normal. According to FDR data for the accident flight, the takeoff began with the flaps, slats, and horizontal stabilizer set correctly.
At 0959:36.3, the first officer called out “80 kts,” followed by “V1” at 0959:47.2 and “rotate” at 0959:48.0. Based on the FDR data, the captain’s attempt to rotate the airplane began about 1 second after the “rotate” callout, but the airplane’s pitch never increased. (See the “Aircraft Performance Study” section.) The captain stated in a postaccident interview that, when he pulled back to move the control column aft, “absolutely nothing happened.” The captain said it felt to him like the control “was in concrete.” When asked to clarify whether he moved the yoke and the airplane didn’t lift off, or whether the yoke was stuck, the captain replied “no” to both scenarios and stated that the yoke was “frozen.”
The CVR captured that the first officer subsequently made the “V2” callout (an airspeed reference relevant to single-engine climb performance) and that the captain then said “…come on” in a strained voice at 0959:51.7. Both pilots recalled in postaccident interviews that they both then attempted to pull back on the yoke. At 0959:53.3, the first officer called out “…abort.”
According to the captain, the first officer was faster than he was at reaching for the thrust levers, and, when he saw that the first officer pulled the thrust levers to idle, he (the captain) activated the thrust reversers. The first officer said that he heavily applied the brakes and could feel the airplane decelerating, but it overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane crossed the runway safety area and continued through the airport perimeter fence and across a road, striking electrical distribution lines and trees before coming to rest about 1,400 ft beyond the end of the runway in a privately owned pasture.
The CVR had ceased recording audio shortly after the airplane departed the runway surface, and no crew conversations after the “abort” callout were captured. According to the captain, once the airplane came to a stop, he saw flames out the left cockpit window and commanded for everyone to evacuate.
All passengers and crew evacuated the airplane, and airport and emergency response personnel soon arrived. (See the “Survival Aspects” section.) PERSONNEL INFORMATIONCaptain
At the time of the accident, the captain worked for Everts as a simulator instructor and check airman. He previously worked as Everts’ chief pilot in the DC-9/MD-80 series airplanes for about 2.5 years until he turned 65 and was no longer eligible to fly under Part 121 regulations.
The captain’s most recent Part 121 training events at Everts included recurrent ground and flight training in October and November 2020, respectively, a requalification proficiency check in June 2021, and emergency procedures training in October 2021.
The captain resided in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 16, 2021 (3 days before the accident), he was in Fairbanks, Alaska, and awoke about 0515 Alaska daylight time (AKDT) for a 0700 AKDT flight home, where he arrived about 1830 Pacific daylight time (PDT). He did not nap during the day, and he went to bed about 2130 PDT. The next day, he awoke between about 0600 and 0700 PDT, did routine personal errands throughout the day, and went to bed about 2200 PDT. The day before the accident, he awoke about 0630 PDT and had a 1000 PDT flight to Houston, where he arrived about 1530. He met the first officer for dinner, went back to the hotel to watch a football game, and went to bed about 2230 to 2245. On the day of the accident, he awoke about 0630, had breakfast, and arrived at the airport about 0800 The captain said he had no problems falling asleep at night and felt rested the morning of the accident.
In the 72 hours preceding the accident, the captain did not consume any alcohol or other drugs, including prescription or nonprescription medications, that might have affected his performance. He had no major changes in his personal life, finances, or health in the previous 12 months.
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory on the captain’s blood identified no evidence of impairing drugs.
First Officer
The first officer worked for Everts since June 2019. Previous employment included flying corporate airplanes for several years in the United States and overseas.
The first officer’s most recent Part 121 training events at Everts included recurrent ground and flight training in January and July 2021, respectively, a proficiency/qualification check in July 2021, and emergency procedures training in January 2021.
The first officer resided in Bruce, South Dakota. On October 16, 2021 (3 days before the accident), he awoke between 0800 and 0900, did routine housework throughout the day, and went to bed between 2200 and 2300. The next day, he awoke between 0800 and 0900, did routine housework, and went to bed about 2200. The day before the accident, he awoke about 0530 and caught an 0800 flight to Houston, arriving at his hotel at 1438. He took a 45-minute nap, met the captain for dinner, the returned to the hotel to relax and watch TV before going to bed about 2130 to 2200. On the day of the accident, he awoke about 0700 and had breakfast before heading to the airport. The first officer said he usually fell asleep quickly at night and would sometimes toss and turn. He characterized his sleep as “pretty decent” in the days before the accident and said he felt rested on the day of the accident.
In the 72 hours preceding the accident, the first officer did not consume any alcohol or other drugs, including prescription or nonprescription medications. He had no major changes in his personal life, finances, or health in the previous 12 months.
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory on the first officer’s blood identified no evidence of impairing drugs.
Other Crewmembers
According to the airplane’s owner, he acted as a cabin crewmember and performed such duties as setting out food, drinks, and blankets before the passengers arrived and providing the pretakeoff safety briefing, which included the use of the seatbelts and the emergency exits. (See the “Survival Aspects” section.) The owner knew all of the passengers on the accident flight (either personally or through business), and most had traveled on the airplane before. According to the captain, the owner typically provided the passenger safety briefings, was thorough, and ensured that everyone paid attention.
According to the airplane’s owner, a mechanic (usually the maintenance manager) always traveled on board the airplane to be available in case any maintenance needs arose when the airplane was away from base. On the day of the accident, the maintenance manager was not feeling well enough to travel, but he went to the airport before the flight departed, met with the flight crew, and provided instructions to the on-board mechanic (who had not traveled with the accident airplane before). AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAt the time of the accident, The Boeing Company held the type certificate for the DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplane (generally referred to as a DC-9/MD-80 series airplanes). The owner of 987 Investments purchased the accident airplane in 2015 and maintained it based on Boeing maintenance planning document ME80-020-TNK, dated August 1, 2019.
According to the maintenance manager, maintenance checks and inspections to maintain airworthiness were accomplished since the airplane was last flown in April 2021. According to the mechanic, on the day of the accident, he completed a 72-hour service check and daily walk-around tasks, which included checking the security and condition of the airplane’s exterior, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizer surfaces.
Cabin Configuration
The accident airplane was originally delivered with a commercial cabin configuration, but maintenance records showed that it was modified in 2008 under an STC that specified 19 passenger seating positions (with 1 additional state room seat subject to a limitation that prohibited occupancy during taxi, takeoff, and landing).
The accident airplane’s cockpit had seats for the captain and the first officer and included one retractable observer’s seat (which was unoccupied during the accident flight). According to interviews with the airplane’s owner and multiple passengers, the cabin had 22 passenger seats, each of which was equipped with a lift-latch lap belt. The owner said he was unaware that the cabin configuration differed from that specified in the STC.
Elevator System
The DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplane has a T-tail design, such that the elevators and horizontal stabilizer are attached near the top of the vertical stabilizer about 30 ft above ground level (agl). The left and right elevators are attached by hinges to the rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer, and each is equipped with control, geared, and antifloat tabs attached to the trailing edge (see figure 1).

Figure 1. Exemplar airplane (viewed from the ground looking up) showing respective locations of right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, control tab, geared tab, and antifloat tab. (Source: Boeing)
Generally, elevator control is accomplished via the elevator control tabs, which are mechanically connected to and directly controlled by the cockpit control columns. During takeoff (at Vr or higher), when a pilot provides aft control column input to command rotation, the control tabs mechanically deflect in response to the control column inputs, and the resultant aerodynamic forces on the deflected control tabs move the elevators to produce the change in airplane pitch.
Elevator geared tabs, which mechanically deflect in response to elevator movements, are attached to the horizontal stabilizer through a system of drive linkages. The geared tab drive linkage consists of a pushrod that is attached to the horizontal stabilizer spar by means of an actuating crank and links (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Installed location of geared tab linkage components (left) and closer view of the links and actuating crank (right). (Source: Boeing; some labels and revisions added by NTSB)
The antifloat tabs (which prevent down-float of the elevator) are mechanically connected to the horizontal stabilizer, and their positions are driven by the stabilizer position.
When the airplane is parked, each elevator is free to move independently within the confines of the mechanical stops if acted upon by an external force, such as wind. The elevator system (by design) has no gust lock.
Automatic Spoiler System
The accident airplane was equipped with an automatic spoiler system designed to automatically deploy to reduce lift and increase drag for more effective braking whenever reverse thrust is commanded. The system, which is electrically controlled and hydraulically actuated, becomes armed when a flight crewmember sets the speed brake handle before takeoff. In the event of a rejected takeoff, when a crewmember raises the thrust levers to the reverse thrust position, electrical signals are sent to the automatic spoiler actuator, which pushes the speed brake handle to its full extension, simultaneously actuating the spoilers on each wing.
Owner/Operator Information
The owner and operator of the airplane, 987 Investments LLC, was a privately held company that contracted with the maintenance manager, mechanics, and current and qualified pilots to operate the airplane, which the company acquired about 6 or 7 years before the accident. According to the owner, he paid a fee to Everts Air Cargo to provide the maintenance manager with information on the items due for the airplane, such as periodic inspections and airworthiness directives. The maintenance manager said that he had been overseeing the maintenance on the accident airplane for about 5 years. He said that the airplane was maintained under the Boeing maintenance program and that Everts would send him maintenance information weekly that detailed any work that needed to be done and when it was due.
For the accident flight, the maintenance manager contacted Everts to inquire about a crew for the upcoming planned flight. For such requests, Everts’ director of operations would check to see which pilots were off duty on the requested days and ask them if they wanted to conduct the flight; if the pilots agreed, the director of operations would provide their contact information to the representative of 987 Investments so they could arrange the logistics. According to records maintained by the FAA’s Houston Flight Standards District Office, in September 2017, an Everts representative submitted an e-mail request to the office to operate the accident airplane under Part 91 with Everts’ pilots who were pilot-in-command-qualified. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONWeather at Accident Site
National Weather Service (NWS) surface analysis station models near the accident site at the time of the accident depicted east-to-southeasterly winds of 10 kts or less and clear skies. A review of the national composite radar mosaic revealed no significant echoes within 1 hour of the accident.
About 0958, the TME air traffic controller informed the flight crew that the wind was from 090° at 6 kts.
Previous High-Wind Events
A review of high wind events affecting TME between April 26, 2021 (when the airplane had last flown) and the day of the accident identified 23 days with wind gusts of more than 25 kts for more than one consecutive hour. The two strongest wind events included reported gusts up to 46 kts and 45 kts, respectively, as follows:
o On May 18, 2021, a line of thunderstorms developed across central and southern Texas and merged into a bow echo configuration with embedded supercell thunderstorms. The line was responsible for producing an extensive area of strong wind, large hail, and several tornadoes. An NWS surface analysis chart for that day depicted a squall line with a distinct wind shift moving across the TME area. An NWS composite radar mosaic for the same day showed a line of echoes of extreme intensity was immediately west of the airport when strong wind conditions were reported. TME weather observations that day included a report at 2115 of wind from 200° at 34 kts gusting to 46 kts; at 2135, wind from 340° at 13 kts gusting to 30 kts; and at 2155, wind from 040° at 19 kts gusting to 28 kts.
o On September 13 and 14, 2021, the TME area was affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Nicholas, which had come ashore as a hurricane west of Sargent Beach, Texas, before weakening and moving into the Houston area. TME weather observations indicated wind gusts of more than 25 kts on September 13 and 14, with a peak gust of 45 kts and gusts of 35 to 45 kts reported over a 5-hour period. Similar high-wind observations of 39 to 50 kts were reported over the Houston area, with Houston Hobby Airport (about 39 miles east of TME) reporting the highest gust of 50 kts.
According to the airport manager at TME, the high wind associated with Tropical Storm Nicholas blew in an 8-ft sliding door at a fixed based operator next to where the accident airplane was parked, requiring replacement of the door.
An NWS National Hurricane Center wind speed probability chart issued on September 14 indicated a greater than 50 percent probability of wind greater than 50 kts for the TME area with a greater than 90 percent probability for the area immediately south of TME. AIRPORT INFORMATIONAt the time of the accident, The Boeing Company held the type certificate for the DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplane (generally referred to as a DC-9/MD-80 series airplanes). The owner of 987 Investments purchased the accident airplane in 2015 and maintained it based on Boeing maintenance planning document ME80-020-TNK, dated August 1, 2019.
According to the maintenance manager, maintenance checks and inspections to maintain airworthiness were accomplished since the airplane was last flown in April 2021. According to the mechanic, on the day of the accident, he completed a 72-hour service check and daily walk-around tasks, which included checking the security and condition of the airplane’s exterior, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizer surfaces.
Cabin Configuration
The accident airplane was originally delivered with a commercial cabin configuration, but maintenance records showed that it was modified in 2008 under an STC that specified 19 passenger seating positions (with 1 additional state room seat subject to a limitation that prohibited occupancy during taxi, takeoff, and landing).
The accident airplane’s cockpit had seats for the captain and the first officer and included one retractable observer’s seat (which was unoccupied during the accident flight). According to interviews with the airplane’s owner and multiple passengers, the cabin had 22 passenger seats, each of which was equipped with a lift-latch lap belt. The owner said he was unaware that the cabin configuration differed from that specified in the STC.
Elevator System
The DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplane has a T-tail design, such that the elevators and horizontal stabilizer are attached near the top of the vertical stabilizer about 30 ft above ground level (agl). The left and right elevators are attached by hinges to the rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer, and each is equipped with control, geared, and antifloat tabs attached to the trailing edge (see figure 1).

Figure 1. Exemplar airplane (viewed from the ground looking up) showing respective locations of right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, control tab, geared tab, and antifloat tab. (Source: Boeing)
Generally, elevator control is accomplished via the elevator control tabs, which are mechanically connected to and directly controlled by the cockpit control columns. During takeoff (at Vr or higher), when a pilot provides aft control column input to command rotation, the control tabs mechanically deflect in response to the control column inputs, and the resultant aerodynamic forces on the deflected control tabs move the elevators to produce the change in airplane pitch.
Elevator geared tabs, which mechanically deflect in response to elevator movements, are attached to the horizontal stabilizer through a system of drive linkages. The geared tab drive linkage consists of a pushrod that is attached to the horizontal stabilizer spar by means of an actuating crank and links (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Installed location of geared tab linkage components (left) and closer view of the links and actuating crank (right). (Source: Boeing; some labels and revisions added by NTSB)
The antifloat tabs (which prevent down-float of the elevator) are mechanically connected to the horizontal stabilizer, and their positions are driven by the stabilizer position.
When the airplane is parked, each elevator is free to move independently within the confines of the mechanical stops if acted upon by an external force, such as wind. The elevator system (by design) has no gust lock.
Automatic Spoiler System
The accident airplane was equipped with an automatic spoiler system designed to automatically deploy to reduce lift and increase drag for more effective braking whenever reverse thrust is commanded. The system, which is electrically controlled and hydraulically actuated, becomes armed when a flight crewmember sets the speed brake handle before takeoff. In the event of a rejected takeoff, when a crewmember raises the thrust levers to the reverse thrust position, electrical signals are sent to the automatic spoiler actuator, which pushes the speed brake handle to its full extension, simultaneously actuating the spoilers on each wing.
Owner/Operator Information
The owner and operator of the airplane, 987 Investments LLC, was a privately held company that contracted with the maintenance manager, mechanics, and current and qualified pilots to operate the airplane, which the company acquired about 6 or 7 years before the accident. According to the owner, he paid a fee to Everts Air Cargo to provide the maintenance manager with information on the items due for the airplane, such as periodic inspections and airworthiness directives. The maintenance manager said that he had been overseeing the maintenance on the accident airplane for about 5 years. He said that the airplane was maintained under the Boeing maintenance program and that Everts would send him maintenance information weekly that detailed any work that needed to be done and when it was due.
For the accident flight, the maintenance manager contacted Everts to inquire about a crew for the upcoming planned flight. For such requests, Everts’ director of operations would check to see which pilots were off duty on the requested days and ask them if they wanted to conduct the flight; if the pilots agreed, the director of operations would provide their contact information to the representative of 987 Investments so they could arrange the logistics. According to records maintained by the FAA’s Houston Flight Standards District Office, in September 2017, an Everts representative submitted an e-mail request to the office to operate the accident airplane under Part 91 with Everts’ pilots who were pilot-in-command-qualified. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane came to rest about 1,400 ft from the end of the runway. No parts of the airplane were found on the runway or south of the airport perimeter fence. The nose landing gear remained attached and was folded aft with damage to its supporting structure. The lower section of the left main landing gear, including the axle and wheels, was found separated in the debris field about 150 ft from the main wreckage. The right main landing gear was found in its respective wheel well.
The airplane structure forward of the empennage was heavily damaged by fire. All of the upper fuselage structure (except for a small section of the upper nose structure and empennage) was consumed by fire. An outboard portion of the left wing was found separated due to contact with several trees. The inboard portion of the left wing was attached to the fuselage and showed heavy fire damage. Most of the right wing was partially attached to the fuselage and showed heavy fire damage near the wing root.
The empennage was partially intact with the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, rudder, and elevators attached (see figure 3).

Figure 3. View of the wreckage (from front left looking aft) showing heavy fire damage forward of the empennage.
Elevators
Postaccident examination found both elevators in a trailing-edge-down position, and attempts to move them upward (using hand pressure) were unsuccessful (see figure 4).

Figure 4. Both elevators as found in the trailing-edge down position.
Impact and fire damage precluded establishing control cable continuity for the elevator system. The control columns were consumed by fire, and the control cables from the cockpit to the tail were covered in melted metal and debris.
Examination found that the inboard actuating cranks for both elevators’ geared tabs were bent, and their respective attachment linkages were bent outboard (see figure 5).

Figure 5. Left and right elevator inboard geared tab linkages (left and right, respectively), viewed from underneath each elevator. Each linkage is bent outboard.
The actuating crank and linkages were found locked overcenter beyond their normal range of travel. Once the actuating cranks were disconnected and the bent linkages removed, the elevators could be moved (using hand pressure) through their normal range of motion. No other elevator or pitch control system component anomalies were identified. Tests and examinations of the components removed from the system revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or damage, or any actions by the flight crew or maintenance personnel, that could have caused the overcenter condition.
The first officer provided a photograph he took of the airplane on the morning of the accident, before the flight crew performed any manipulations of the cockpit flight controls. The photograph showed that the forward portion of each elevator’s outboard balance weight was visible above the top surface of the horizontal stabilizer, consistent with both elevators in a trailing-edge-down position (see figure 6).

Figure 6. Accident airplane on the morning of the accident. Insets show the outboard balance weight for each elevator.
Powerplants
Both engines were found attached to their respective engine mounts and connected to the empennage in their normal orientation. The thrust reversers for both engines were found intact and stowed, and the leading edges of the lower doors showed no damage or scoring from contact with stationary objects. No damage or debris was found under the thrust reverser doors.
An exhaust pattern of burned earth and singed grass extended about 90 ft behind the exhaust duct of the right engine, consistent with engine operation after the airplane came to rest. No such pattern was observed behind the left engine.
Examination of the right engine and nacelle revealed minor impact damage. Examination of the left engine revealed impact damage to the lower right quadrant of the nacelle and the inlet duct assembly, most of which was found separated on the ground. The left engine’s fuel control unit and fuel pump were impact-damaged, with their internal components exposed. The last 500 ft of the airplane’s ground track included a cluster of trees on the left side that showed fractured and burned branches. The alignment of fire damage patterns observed on the left engine components was consistent with exposure to a ground fire.
Seat Restraints and Exits
Postaccident fire damage precluded documentation of the cabin seat restraints. The forward-left door was fire-damaged and found on the ground with the door hinge attached to the deformed door frame. The door and the handle were in the open position, and a portion of the evacuation slide was found under the door. The forward-right door and the surrounding fuselage structure were fire-damaged, and the lower portion of the door and door frame indicated that the door was closed; the evacuation slide was destroyed by fire. The tailcone exit was destroyed by fire, and its evacuation slide was in its packaging. Both overwing exits were destroyed by fire. FLIGHT RECORDERSThe airplane was equipped with a Honeywell 6022 CVR designed to record a minimum of 30 minutes of analog audio on a continuous loop tape in a four-channel format: one channel for each pilot, one channel for a cockpit observer, and one channel for the cockpit area microphone. The CVR showed thermal damage but the data downloaded normally and consisted of 31 minutes 14 seconds of fair quality audio from the captain’s channel and poor-quality audio from the cockpit area microphone.
The airplane was equipped with a Honeywell Universal FDR designed to record about 25 hours of flight information (which included the accident flight and previous flights) in a binary format, using analog signals, onto eight tracks of magnetic tape. The FDR showed external thermal damage, and the magnetic tape showed minor damage of an undetermined nature. Recorded data parameters included airspeed, engine performance, left and right elevator positions, airplane pitch angle, control column position, left and right brake pressures, left and right thrust reverser lock/unlock, left and right thrust reverser position, spoiler position, and acceleration information. Due to the nature of the tape-based recorder system and readout equipment, data dropouts (gaps in data) were noted, especially at the end of the accident flight recording. Further, a review of the data for the accident flight and previous flights determined that the left and right thrust reverser position parameter was not valid for any of the flights on the recording. SURVIVAL ASPECTSAfter all the passengers boarded, the mechanic stowed the stairs, closed the main cabin door, and notified the pilots that the door was closed before he took a seat in the right crew room (at the front of the cabin) and fastened his seatbelt. The airplane’s owner stated that he ensured that all passengers were paying attention when he provided them with a safety briefing, which included the use of the seatbelts and the location of the emergency exits. According to the CVR transcript, about 12 minutes before takeoff, the CVR captured the owner’s voice speaking in a cadence consistent with that of a passenger briefing, detecting the word “forward” and a discussion of seat positioning. The owner said he walked through the cabin and ensured that all passengers were seated with their seatbelts fastened before he took a seat in the left crew room (at the front of the cabin) and latched the lap belt portion of his restraint.
Emergency Evacuation
During the accident sequence, two passengers who had removed their seatbelts during taxi were ejected from their seats but were not injured. The mechanic said he unbuckled his seatbelt during the accident sequence to be mobile and able to evacuate faster.
As described in the “History of Flight” section, as soon as the airplane came to rest, the captain saw that it was on fire and commanded the evacuation. The captain said that his main concern was getting the passengers off the airplane and away from the fire. The first officer said he left the cockpit before the captain and saw that the forward-left door was already open, and passengers were evacuating. The first officer said he began walking aft through the cabin to ensure no one was still on board, but the captain told him to evacuate.
The captain said he walked aft through the cabin but made it only about two-thirds of the way back before encountering dense smoke. The captain said he yelled to make sure no one was in the back of the airplane before he exited and that, just as he was exiting through the forward-left door, the first officer asked him if he had shut down the engines, and he responded that he had not. According to the captain, not shutting down the engines (per the emergency evacuation procedure) was an omission.
Once the airplane came to a stop, passengers heard shouts indicating a fire and the need to evacuate. The mechanic said he ran to the forward-left door, looked out the window, and saw flames outside. As the mechanic moved to the forward-right door, a passenger came forward, opened the forward-left door, and jumped out before the evacuation slide inflated. The passenger said he felt a sharp pain in his ankle when he landed on the ground, but he was able to run away from the airplane.
The mechanic said he saw the passenger jump out, and he went back to the forward-left door and “kicked the girt bar” to help the slide inflate “faster.” Passengers reported that the slide was fully inflated at the beginning of the evacuation but became less inflated as the evacuation continued. The mechanic exited through the forward-left door and assisted passengers as they came down the slide. A passenger who was seated near the left overwing exit opened it, experienced intense heat from the flames outside, then attempted to close it (with the help of another passenger) but was unsuccessful; she subsequently ran forward to use the forward-left door. The passenger who had assisted her moved to the right overwing exit, opened it, and exited through it, along with one other passenger. No other passengers or crew used the overwing exit.
Two passengers who had first headed aft toward the tailcone exit turned around after observing smoke in the back of the airplane and exited through the forward-left door. One passenger, who was described as having a preexisting back injury that was exacerbated during the accident sequence, couldn’t walk and was assisted by the airplane’s owner and others in evacuating and moving away from the airplane. The airplane’s owner said he walked aft through the cabin to make sure no passengers were still on board before he exited through the forward-left door.
Emergency Response
The TME air traffic controller saw the airplane exit the runway into the trees and initiated the emergency response procedures. The airport manager also saw the event, ran into the terminal, and yelled for someone to call 911 then immediately drove to the scene. Emergency responders were dispatched about 1001, police officers arrived on scene about 1007, and the first firefighting vehicle arrived about 1013; responders noted an “intense” fire. Responders encountered passengers walking away from the airplane and toward the road, with about nine gathered at a locked gate to the pasture. Emergency responders used bolt cutters to open two locked gates to access the pasture, and a road grader working nearby assisted the airport director with forcing open a third.
Responders placed the passenger with the back injury onto a backboard, and several passengers helped carry him to the emergency response vehicles. Ambulances transported this passenger and a passenger who sustained a lung injury (from the intense heat she encountered when she opened the left overwing exit) to a local hospital. Another passenger, who sustained a self-reported ankle fracture, later went to a local hospital via private transport. TESTS AND RESEARCHAircraft Performance
According to dispatch information, the accident airplane’s gross takeoff weight was 111,770 lbs, and the center of gravity was at 22.8% of the mean aerodynamic cord, both of which were within the certified envelopes for the airplane. Based on these data and the weather and surface conditions for the accident flight, Boeing calculated that the distance for the airplane to accelerate to V1 (the captain’s calculated decision speed of 129 kts) and then be brought to a stop was 5,607 ft. The captain calculated that Vr (rotation speed) was 132 kts. (See “Reduced Thrust Takeoff Procedures” for more information.)
Based on the NTSB’s aircraft performance study (which used both recorded FDR parameters and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data for the accident flight), during the takeoff roll, the first officer made the “rotate” callout at 0959:48.0, and a change in control column position (consistent with the captain’s attempt to rotate the airplane) began about 1 second later, when the airplane was traveling about 134 kts. However, both elevators remained in the nearly full trailing-edge-down position, and the airplane’s pitch never increased.
A review of FDR data from the accident flight and airplane’s previous two takeoffs showed similar control column position behavior for all three flights. However, the elevator movement and airplane pitch behavior following control column movement during the accident takeoff were inconsistent with the airplane’s previous two takeoffs. The data showed that, generally, during the previous takeoffs, as the airplane accelerated down the runway, the elevator deflections gradually converged around or slightly below neutral until about 1 to 2 seconds after the initiation of control column position movement, at which point the elevators moved to a trailing-edge-up position, and the airplane’s nose-up pitch response began about 1 to 2 seconds later.
The airplane performance study determined that, during the accident takeoff, the airplane’s speed was about 150 kts when the crew initiated the rejected takeoff about 0959:53.3, as evidenced by the increase in the left and right brake pressures and a reduction in engine thrust. At this point, about 1,500 ft of runway remained. The airplane reached a maximum speed of 158 kts at 0959:55 before it began decelerating. Boeing estimated that it would have taken 2,450 ft to stop the airplane from the maximum speed on a dry, paved runway for the given airplane configuration using maximum braking and reverse thrust (or 2,800 ft without the use of reverse thrust).
The FDR data indicated that, about 0959:59, the left and right thrust reversers momentarily unlocked and the spoilers deployed but then the thrust reversers relocked. In the absence of valid data parameters for left and right thrust reverser position (separate parameters from the unlock data), the actual positions of the thrust reversers during the accident sequence could not be determined. The airplane performance study determined that the airplane’s speed was about 121 kts when it exited the paved surface about 1000:01; the FDR data became unreliable about 1000:03.
During postaccident interviews, the captain stated that he pulled the thrust reverser levers “all the way up” to deploy the thrust reversers. The captain stated that he couldn’t recall where his hand was positioned after he deployed the thrust reverser levers but noted that he did not ever intentionally stow them or consciously push them down. The first officer described the runway excursion as “a pretty violent ride.”
An airport maintenance worker located in a field adjacent to the runway reported that he saw the thrust reversers deploy and a puff of smoke from hard braking but lost sight of the airplane as it continued off the end of the runway. The airplane’s owner said he felt the heavy braking but did not hear the thrust reversers, and the mechanic said the thrust reversers may have come open but he did not hear them. ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATIONThe captain and the first officer accepted the Part 91 accident flight as contract work for 987 Investments. Their primary employer was Everts Air Cargo, which trained them and provided the quick reference handbook, checklist, and procedures they chose to use for the accident flight.
Exterior Inspection Procedures
According to the exterior inspector procedure in Everts’ MD-80 operating manual, the checklist item for the elevators and tabs indicates that the crew is to check for “CONDITION GOOD.”
Everts also provided its pilots with a pictorial, “Exterior Preflight General Instructions,” that included 150 slides detailing the exterior preflight inspection of the airplane. One slide stated the following:
Airplanes that are exposed to high and sustained winds, or wind gusts, greater than 65 knots, are susceptible to elevator damage or jamming. There are procedures from the Aircraft Maintenance Manual for airplanes suspected to have been subjected to such conditions, requiring visual and physical inspections (moving the surfaces from the cockpit controls) to assure proper flight control operation.
The pictorial contained five slides detailing what pilots should look for when inspecting the elevators. The slides discussed observing the condition of the leading edges of the horizontal and vertical stabilizer, the ram air inlet, static wicks, rudder deflection, and elevator and rudder attach points.
Everts’ MD-80 operating manual did not include a copy of the Boeing MD-80 FCOM Temporary Revision 80-2-153, dated May 15, 2020, that provided an exterior inspection procedure that included the following warning and caution regarding jammed elevators (emphasis in original):
WARNING: Prior to every flight, elevator surfaces must be confirmed as not jammed in the Trailing Edge Down (TED) position. If both elevators are faired with or above the stabilizer surface, confirmation is complete.
CAUTION: Airplanes that are exposed to high-sustained winds, or wind gusts, greater than 55 knots are susceptible to elevator damage and/or jamming. Airplanes suspected to have been subjected to these conditions must be inspected per the Aircraft Maintenance Manual prior to the flight.
Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 (also issued by Boeing in 2020) provided operators methods to comply with the warning statement contained in FCOM Temporary Revision 80-2-153 and confirm before each flight that the elevators are not jammed in the trailing-edge-down position.
The operations bulletin stated that, during the exterior inspection procedure, an elevator that is not faired with or above the trailing edge of the stabilizer can be verified as not jammed by moving the control column to the full aft stop and confirming (using an external observer) that the elevator moves in the trailing-edge-up direction. According to the bulletin, when the control column is pulled full aft, the elevator control tab moves during the first 95 percent (approximately) of control column travel, and the elevator moves during the last 5 percent. The bulletin stated that, if an external observer sees no elevator movement when the control column is pulled fully to its aft stop, a maintenance inspection of the elevators is required.
Both Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 and the Boeing MD-80 FCOM Temporary Revision 80-2-153 established maintenance inspection requirements for airplanes exposed to wind of 55 kts or greater. This wind threshold lowered the previously established threshold of about 65 kts.
Further, Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 included information about two previous jammed elevator events in 1999 and 2017 involving DC-9/MD-80 series airplanes that had been exposed to high winds and gusts while parked. The bulletin stated that, in both cases, the control column feel and travel were normal during the control checks performed during taxi. The 1999 event involved a successful rejected takeoff in Germany, and the 2017 event was a runway overrun accident in Ypsilanti, Michigan, investigated by the NTSB. As a result of the NTSB’s investigation of the Ypsilanti accident, the NTSB issued three safety recommendations to Boeing [Safety Recommendations A-19-1 through -3] and one to the FAA [Safety Recommendation A-19-5] that were specific to DC-9/MD-80 series airplanes and intended to prevent future occurrences. (Discussed in the “Previously Issued Safety Recommendations” section of this report.)
Boeing made the operations bulletin available to airplane owners, operators, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul centers through its MyBoeingFleet website. According to a Boeing representative, the MyBoeingFleet system would also send an e-mail to the contact person for operators listed within the system to inform them of any new bulletins published for their specific aircraft.
Everts was listed in the MyBoeingFleet system as an operator, and a review of select activity data for Everts between 2019 and 2021 identified numerous views and downloads of various technical publications from the system. Everts’ director of operations stated that he unaware of Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 before the accident, and the MyBoeingFleet activity data showed that an Everts representative first accessed the bulletin 4 days after the accident. No representative of 987 Investments, which was listed in MyBoeingFleet as an airplane owner, had ever accessed the system, and the maintenance manager was unaware of Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 and the maintenance inspection requirement for airplanes exposed to wind of 55 kts or greater.
During interviews, an Everts representative stated that the 2017 jammed elevator event was discussed during pilot training and that the scenario was performed in the simulator. The captain stated that Everts’ jammed elevator training addressed only the effects of jammed elevator in flight. The first officer stated that he was not sure if he ever had training to deal with a jammed elevator. Another Everts pilot described that, in checking the elevators, “Generally…we just did the control checks in the airplane as we were taxiing. No binding, no stiffness, no anything like that….It seems like if [the elevators] were jammed, you wouldn’t be able to move the yoke.”
Normal Takeoff Procedures
The normal takeoff procedures in Everts’ MD-80 operating manual stated the following (in excerpt):
o The pilot monitoring makes the “V1” callout when the airplane’s speed is about 5 kts below V1 and the “rotate” callout at Vr (rotation speed).
o The pilot monitoring makes the “rotate” callout at Vr (rotation speed), and the pilot flying “verifies airspeed and smoothly rotates to initial takeoff attitude (maximum 20° pitch). Rotation rate should be approximately [2.5] seconds to liftoff (8° pitch) and [2.5] seconds from liftoff to takeoff attitude in one smooth, continuous pitch change.”
o The captain will make the decision to abort, if necessary.
Reduced Thrust Takeoff Procedures
The reduced thrust takeoff procedures in Everts’ MD-80 operating manual stated (in part) that, when the airplane’s actual takeoff weight is less than the maximum allowable, the takeoff may be made with normal takeoff thrust or with reduced thrust, if the proper conditions are satisfied. Per the manual, when determining the flap setting and takeoff speeds for a reduced thrust takeoff, the flight crew should “[r]ead down the appropriate wind column to a weight equal to or greater than the actual takeoff weight.”
Based on the flight release paperwork for the accident flight, the takeoff weight for the accident flight was 111,770 lbs (converted from 50,700 kgs), which was below the airplane’s maximum takeoff weight of 149,000 lbs.
According to the captain, he chose a reduced thrust takeoff for the accident flight because the airplane’s low takeoff weight allowed it, and he preferred to use reduced thrust takeoffs whenever possible to help maintain the engines. He stated that, when determining the V speeds for the reduced thrust takeoff, the accident airplane’s takeoff weight fell between 110,000 lbs and 119,000 lbs (the increments available on the takeoff performance chart), so he used the numbers that corresponded with 119,000 lbs. Based on the chart, the captain determined that, for the accident flight, V1 was 129 kts, Vr was 132 kts, and V2 was 140 kts.
The Everts MD-80 operating manual that the captain referenced was for an airplane equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 engines, and the accident airplane was equipped with -219 engines. A Boeing review of airplane flight manuals (AFMs) for both -217 and -219 equipped airplanes identified minimal difference between the resultant calculated V speeds (such that rounding the results to the nearest knot yielded equivalent V speeds) when using the graphical takeoff performance charts and the accident airplane’s takeoff weight.
Rejected Takeoff Procedures
The rejected takeoff procedures in Everts’ MD-80 flight operation manual stated the following (in excerpt):
The captain “has the sole responsibility for the decision to reject the takeoff…Rejecting the takeoff after V1 is not recommended unless the captain judges the airplane to be incapable of flight.”
According to Everts’ general operations manual, if a flight crewmember “detects any malfunction during the takeoff run, call out the type of malfunction. The captain makes the decision, declares, and initiates the abort.”
Emergency Evacuation
Everts’ quick reference handbook’s “Emergency Evacuation” procedure for the airplane for the “on ground” phase of flight included (in excerpt) positioning the fuel levers to “off,” pulling the engine fire handles, initiating the evacuation command, confirming all passengers and crew are evacuated, and, if time and conditions permit, turning the battery switch “off.”
Additional Information
Postaccident Inspection of Other DC-9 Airplane Parked at TME
The owner of the accident airplane owned another DC-9 (MD-87) airplane that was parked on the ramp at TME since before the accident airplane had last flown. According to the maintenance manager, after becoming aware of the maintenance inspection specified in Operations Bulletin 80-2-017 after the accident, he performed the inspection on the other airplane to verify that the elevators were not jammed. (The airplane was not in flying condition but its elevator system and controls had integrity sufficient to perform the inspection.) The maintenance manager said the inspection involved having a person in the cockpit manipulate the flight controls while a person outside the airplane on a lift observed the tail surfaces. He said the inspection worked well. This airplane, which had been parked near the accident airplane during the high-wind events at TME on May 18 and September 13-14, 2021, did not sustain jammed elevators.
Everts’ Postaccident Actions
Following the accident, Everts updated its manuals and developed an illustrated pilot training presentation that referenced this accident and the previous known elevator jamming events, the Boeing operations bulletins, and the flight crew preflight inspection procedure for the elevators. The presentation included photographs to show the visual difference (when viewed from the ground) between the faired and trailing-edge-down elevator positions and a video to show elevator movement.