Ozark Air Lines Flight 650

Last updated

Ozark Air Lines Flight 650
Ozark Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 Silagi-1.jpg
N994Z, the aircraft involved in the accident
Accident
DateDecember 20, 1983 (1983-12-20)
Summary Collision with vehicle
Site Sioux Falls Regional Airport, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
43°34′55″N96°44′40″W / 43.58194°N 96.74444°W / 43.58194; -96.74444
Total fatalities1
Total injuries2
Aircraft
Aircraft type McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Operator Ozark Air Lines
Registration N994Z [1]
Flight origin Sioux Gateway Airport, Sioux City, Iowa
DestinationSioux Falls Regional Airport, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Occupants86
Passengers81
Crew5
Fatalities0
Injuries2
Survivors86
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities1

Ozark Air Lines Flight 650 was a regularly scheduled flight on December 20, 1983 from Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, to Sioux Falls Regional Airport in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While landing in Sioux Falls, the aircraft struck a snow plow on the runway and burst into flames. The snow plow's driver was killed, and two flight attendants were injured. [2]

Contents

Aircraft

Ozark Air Lines Flight 650 was operated using a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner (registration N994Z). [1] :17 On December 20, 1983, Flight 650 departed Sioux City with 81 passengers, two flight attendants, and three flight crewmembers. [1] :18

Accident

Prior to departing Sioux City, Flight 650's flight crew obtained weather conditions for the flight via Sioux City's automatic terminal information service (ATIS) broadcast system. The ATIS report included reports of blowing snow at Sioux Falls. [1] :17

Flight 650 departed Sioux City at 12:53 Central Standard Time, and climbed to an assigned altitude of 11,000 feet. At 13:06, the flight was handed off from Sioux City controllers to the Sioux Falls approach controller, who issued descent instructions to 3,400 feet and vectors to Runway 3 at Sioux Falls Regional Airport. Flight 650 was cleared for the approach at 13:11. [1] :17

At 13:13, when Flight 650 was about 4 miles out from the airport, the Sioux Falls approach controller directed the flight to contact the airport tower. Flight 650's captain acknowledged the instruction, but did not contact the tower. When Flight 650 was about 2.5 miles out, the Sioux Falls tower called the flight, and the captain responded. The tower then cleared Flight 650 to land, giving a runway visual range of 3,500 feet. The tower did not advise Flight 650 of snow removal operations in progress on Runway 3. [1] :17

The flight crew first saw the ground and airport approach lights after descending to an altitude of 200 feet, and then saw the runway. Because the ATIS report had advised of blowing snow, and the flight crew was not advised of snow blowing operations, they were not surprised to see snow blowing across the runway. [1] :17

About 1,000 feet beyond the threshold of Runway 3, the aircraft made a smooth touchdown and the pilots deployed the spoilers. The copilot began to apply reverse thrusters when the aircraft entered a cloud of snow. The DC-9's right wing then struck a large snowsweeping vehicle on the runway. The impact ripped the right wing from the plane, destroying the snow plow and killing its driver, Douglas Stoner, age 38. [3] Leaking fuel from the wing briefly created a fireball that engulfed the airplane but rapidly died out. The plane spun through 180° before coming to rest off the runway to the left of the centerline. Passenger evacuation was initiated through the front two doors. No passengers were injured in the evacuation, but two flight attendants suffered minor injuries. [1] :18

Investigation

The resulting NTSB investigation determined that the snow removal operations were controlled from the tower. The snow plow, call sign Sweeper 7, had been routinely directed to exit the runway to accommodate arrivals and departures. When Flight 650 was handed off from approach control to the tower it did not initiate contact with the tower. The tower controller eventually contacted the flight and cleared it to land. No communications had been made between the tower and Sweeper 7 after Flight 650 was handed off to the tower controller. Neither the approach nor tower controller had advised Flight 650 that snow removal operations were in progress. The hourly ATIS broadcast advised that blowing snow conditions were present, leading the flight crew to not be concerned when they witnessed snow blowing across the runway. The board concluded the snow removal operations were inadequately supervised by the tower. [1]

Aftermath

The aircraft involved in the accident was eventually returned to service with a replacement right wing salvaged from Air Canada Flight 797 that had its main fuselage destroyed by fire after an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport earlier that year. The aircraft was acquired by Republic Airlines and flew with Northwest Airlines after their merger until it was retired in 2006. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Airlines Flight 1420</span> June 1999 runway overrun and crash in Arkansas, US

American Airlines Flight 1420 was a flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Little Rock National Airport in the United States. On June 1, 1999, the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 operating as Flight 1420 overran the runway upon landing in Little Rock and crashed. Nine of the 145 people aboard were immediately killed—the captain and eight passengers. Two more passengers died in the hospital in the following weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Logan International Airport</span> Public airport in Billings, Montana, United States

Billings Logan International Airport is in the western United States, two miles northwest of downtown Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana. It is the fourth busiest airport in Montana, having been surpassed in recent years by Bozeman, Missoula, and Flathead County (Kalispell) in number of annual enplanements. Owned by the city of Billings, the airport is on top of the Rims, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooking the downtown core, and covers 2,500 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Falls Regional Airport</span> Airport in South Dakota, United States

Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field, is a public and military use airport three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. It is named in honor of aviator and Sioux Falls native Joe Foss, who later served as the 20th Governor of South Dakota (1955–1959).

Ozark Air Lines was a local service carrier in the United States that operated from 1950 until 1986, when it was purchased by Trans World Airlines (TWA). Ozark got a second chance to be an airline when the carrier that won the routes for which Ozark applied, Parks Air Lines, failed to start them in a timely manner. Parks had its rights revoked, Ozark won not only the routes it previously applied for, but others as well. Parks merged into Ozark and Ozark took over the Parks operation and the single route over which Parks had recently started service, thereby launching Ozark. Ozark over time became a jet carrier with a hub in St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USAir Flight 1016</span> 1994 aviation accident

USAir Flight 1016 was a regularly scheduled flight in the southeastern United States, between Columbia, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 2, 1994, the flight encountered heavy thunderstorms and microburst-induced windshear while attempting to land, and crashed into heavy trees and a private residence near the airport. The crash and ensuing fire caused 37 fatalities and seriously injured 20 others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell Douglas DC-9</span> Jet airliner, produced 1965-1982

The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is an American five-abreast, single-aisle aircraft designed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was initially produced as the Douglas DC-9 prior to August 1967, after which point the company had merged with McDonnell Aircraft to become McDonnell Douglas. Following the introduction of its first jetliner, the high-capacity DC-8, in 1959, Douglas was interested in producing an aircraft suited to smaller routes. As early as 1958, design studies were conducted; approval for the DC-9, a smaller all-new jetliner, came on April 8, 1963. The DC-9-10 first flew on February 25, 1965, and gained its type certificate on November 23, to enter service with Delta Air Lines on December 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Airlines Flight 1572</span> 1995 aviation accident

American Airlines Flight 1572 was a flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Bradley International Airport on November 12, 1995. The McDonnell Douglas MD-83 struck trees and an instrument landing system (ILS) antenna during landing, causing $9 million in damage to the aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Airlines Flight 383 (1965)</span> 1965 aviation accident in the United States

American Airlines Flight 383 was a nonstop flight from New York City to Cincinnati on November 8, 1965. The aircraft was a Boeing 727, with 57 passengers, and 5 crew on board. The aircraft crashed on final approach to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport located in Hebron, Kentucky, United States. Only three passengers and one flight attendant survived the accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Airlines Flight 1455</span> Aviation accident in California, USA

Southwest Airlines Flight 1455 was a scheduled passenger flight from McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, to Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, Burbank, California, that overran the runway during landing on March 5, 2000. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-3T5, registration N668SW, came to rest on a city street adjacent to a gas station. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the incident was due to the pilots attempting to land with excessive speed. They also found that the air traffic controller placed them in a position from which their only option was a go around. Two of the passengers were seriously injured, and there were many minor injuries. As a result of the incident, the airport installed an Engineered Materials Arrestor System at the east end of the incident runway. The aircraft was written off, making the incident the 10th hull loss of a Boeing 737-300. This was the first major accident in the airline's 29-year history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Airlines Flight 2605</span> 1979 aviation accident

Western Airlines Flight 2605, nicknamed the "Night Owl", was an international scheduled passenger flight from Los Angeles, California, to Mexico City, Mexico. On October 31, 1979, at 5:42 a.m. CST (UTC−06:00), the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 used on the flight crashed at Mexico City International Airport in fog after landing on a runway that was closed for maintenance. Of the 88 occupants on board, 72 were killed, in addition to a maintenance worker who died when the plane struck his vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 St. Louis Airport collision</span> 1994 runway collision in Missouri, United States

The 1994 St. Louis Airport collision occurred when TWA Flight 427, operated using a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, struck a Cessna 441 Conquest II during its take-off roll, killing both of its occupants. The collision took place on November 22, 1994, at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) in Bridgeton, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 Chicago–O'Hare runway collision</span> 1972 aviation accident

On December 20, 1972, North Central Airlines Flight 575 and Delta Air Lines Flight 954 collided on a runway at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Ten people died – all on the North Central aircraft – and 17 were injured in the accident. This was the second major airliner accident to happen in Chicago in December 1972; the other was United Air Lines Flight 553, which crashed 12 days earlier on approach to Midway Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Air Lines Flight 9570</span> 1972 aviation accident

On May 30, 1972, Delta Air Lines Flight 9570 crashed while attempting to land at the Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW) in Fort Worth, Texas during a training flight. All four occupants aboard the training flight were killed. The crash was determined to be caused by the aircraft flying through wake turbulence, and led to sweeping changes in procedures for maintaining minimum safe distance behind aircraft that generate substantial wake turbulence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Air Lines Flight 1086</span> 2015 aviation incident

Delta Air Lines Flight 1086 was a scheduled Delta Air Lines domestic passenger flight between Atlanta and New York's LaGuardia Airport. On March 5, 2015, the McDonnell Douglas MD-88 aircraft veered off the runway shortly after landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The plane ran up the seawall berm and struck the perimeter fence, sliding along it for approximately 940 feet (290 m) before coming to rest with the nose of the aircraft hanging over the berm above Flushing Bay. There were no fatalities, although 29 people suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was seriously damaged and written off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Airlines Flight 383 (2016)</span> 2016 aviation accident in the United States

American Airlines Flight 383 was a scheduled passenger flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois to Miami International Airport. On October 28, 2016, the Boeing 767-300ER operating the flight suffered an engine fire during takeoff. The crew aborted their takeoff, evacuating everyone on board, of whom 21 were injured. The plane was a write-off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozark Air Lines Flight 982</span> 1968 aviation accident

Ozark Air Lines Flight 982 was a regularly scheduled flight on December 27, 1968, originating from Sioux Falls Regional Airport to O'Hare International Airport connecting through Sioux Gateway Airport that crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane struck the ground about 500 feet beyond the end of the runway and came to a stop about 1200 ft from the end of the runway. Thirty-five of the flight's 64 passengers and four crew members were taken to area hospitals, mostly for treatment of minor cuts and scratches. The flight was piloted by Capt. Patrick G. Sweeney, 48, of Wood River, IL. The copilot was John T. Schmeltz, 33, of St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan International Airlines Flight 590</span> 1991 aviation accident

Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 was a cargo flight carrying mail for the United States Postal Service from Greater Buffalo International Airport (BUF) in Buffalo, New York, to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana, with a stopover at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) in Cleveland, Ohio. On February 17, 1991, the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15RC operating the flight crashed on takeoff from Cleveland during icing conditions. Both pilots, the aircraft's only occupants, were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the causes of the crash were the flight crew failing to deice their aircraft, and the inexperience of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), McDonnell Douglas, and Ryan International Airlines with icing condition on DC-9-10 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozark Air Lines Flight 965</span> 1968 mid-air collision in St. Louis, Missouri

Ozark Air Lines Flight 965 was a scheduled commercial flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri, with a scheduled intermediate stopover at Greater Peoria Regional Airport in Peoria, Illinois. On March 27, 1968, the Douglas DC-9-15 jetliner operating the flight, carrying 44 passengers and five crew, collided in mid-air with a single-engined Cessna 150F while both aircraft were on approach to the same runway at Lambert Field. The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries to any of its 49 occupants, while both pilots in the two-person Cessna died in the collision and subsequent ground impact.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Transportation Safety Board .

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Aircraft Accident/Incident Summary Reports" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. September 30, 1985. pp. 17–20. NTSB/AAR-85/01/SUM. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  2. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 N994Z Sioux Falls Regional Airport, SD (FSD)". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation . Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  3. "Ozark Jetliner Hits Snowplow, Killing Driver". The Springfield News-Leader. Associated Press. December 21, 1983.
  4. "N994Z Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved January 17, 2021.