Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-50 accident near Madison, Wisconsin, December 3, 2008
On December 3, 2008 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-50, registered N782NC, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Madison, Wisconsin (Dane County Regional Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 57 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collision between the tug and the airplane during towing as a result of sliding on the snow covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2008 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Wisconsin · Dane County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 57 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-50 · all DC-9-50s on the register
- Registration
- N782NC · no longer on the register · serial 48107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane landed on a snow covered runway and was unable to maneuver while taxiing. The pilot requested that a tug be dispatched to tow the airplane to the gate. After the tug was connected, the airplane and tug slid on the snow and the tug jackknifed and impacted the left side of the airplane causing substantial damage. The tug was subsequently re-connected and the airplane was towed to the gate.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground handling event during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Towing › Not specified
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,871 hours in all; 3,656 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,656 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,731 hours in all; 4,731 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 4, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 66,740 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 28, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 99,000 lb
- Seats: 132
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northwest Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI at 5:17 pm
- Destination: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 9,006 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MSN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 52 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.