Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8F-55 accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, April 23, 1992
On April 23, 1992 at about 10:16 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8F-55, registered N29549, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan (Willow Run airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS INCLUDE (AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE) HYDROPLANING CONDITION, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR EVALUATION OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1992 · about 10:16 pm local time
- Place
- Ypsilanti, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8F-55
- Registration
- N29549 · no longer on the register · serial 45803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LANDED LONG ON A WET RUNWAY AND BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE. BRAKES AND THRUST REVERSERS WERE INEFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRPLANE ONTO A RAMP AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE NOSE GEAR BEGAN TO SINK INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN AND WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAXIWAY, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61,888 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 23, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 328,000 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT3D-3B (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,294 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:18 pm from YIP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.