ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-9-15 N1063T Urbana, OH
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 9 March 1967
Time:11:53
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC91 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-9-15
Operator:Trans World Airlines - TWA
Registration: N1063T
MSN: 45777/80
First flight: 1967
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7
Crew:Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 21
Total:Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25
Collision casualties:Fatalities: 1
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:near Urbana, OH (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Pittsburgh International Airport, PA (PIT/KPIT), United States of America
Destination airport:Dayton-James Cox Dayton International Airport, OH (DAY/KDAY), United States of America
Flightnumber:TW553
Narrative:
TWA 553 operated on a flight from New York to Chicago via Harrisburgh, Pittsburgh, and Dayton. The aircraft operated on an IFR flight plan in visual flight conditions and had been cleared to descend from FL200 to 3000 feet. While descending through 4525 feet the DC-9 collided with a Beechcraft 55 (N6127V operated by the Tann Comp.) which was on a flight to Springfield. The descending DC-9, overtaking and converging from the left, struck the level Beechcraft from the left rear quarter. The collision angle between longitudinal axes of the two aircraft was approx. 47deg in the horizontal plane and 10deg down in the vertical plane. The collision destroyed the Beechcraft by causing it to disintegrate; portions of the Beech penetrated the forward fuselage section of the DC-9 and destroyed the integrity of the flight control system. The DC-9 entered a descending left turn, crashed and burned. The Beechcraft was not under control of, or in radio contact with any FAA traffic facility. Weather at the time of the collision was thin broken clouds with 6-7 miles visibility in haze.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the DC-9 crew to see and avoid the Beechcraft. Contributing to this cause were physiological and environmental conditions and the excessive speed of the DC-9 which reduced visual detection capabilities under an air traffic control system which was not designed or equipped to separate a mixture of controlled and uncontrolled traffic."

Classification:
Mid air collision
Loss of control

Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 107-AN/81 (38-54)


Follow-up / safety actions
The NTSB suggested some changes in the air traffic control system . Also, the Board recommended the development of a practical Collision Avoidance System (CAS).
Following this accident the FAA issued Advisory Circular 90-32 titled 'Air traffic control and general operations, radar capabilities and limitations'. Also a rule was adopted establishing that all aircraft flying below 10,000ft msl will be limited to a maximum speed of 250kts effective December 15, 1967 to provide a more realistic 'see and avoid' environment.

Photos

photo of Douglas-DC-9-15-N1063T
accident date: 09-03-1967
type: Douglas DC-9-15
registration: N1063T
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Pittsburgh International Airport, PA to Dayton-James Cox Dayton International Airport, OH as the crow flies is 342 km (214 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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DC-9-10

  • 147 built
  • 2nd loss
  • 2nd fatal accident
  • The worst accident (at the time)
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