Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32 incident near Houston, Texas, February 21, 1989
On February 21, 1989 at about 12:43 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, registered N1289L, suffered minor damage in an incident near Houston, Texas (Houston Intercontinental airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people had minor injuries; 47 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TURBINE GUIDE VANE FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1989 · about 12:43 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Houston Intercontinental · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 47 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32 · all DC-9-32s on the register
- Registration
- N1289L · no longer on the register · serial 47444
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED BACK ON THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AFTER TURNING OFF ON A TAXIWAY, THE TOWER TOLD THE CREW THAT THE LEFT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CREW USED THE FIRE BOTTLE AND ORDERED AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT INITIALLY, A VANE HAD FAILED IN THE STAGE 2 TURBINE SECTION. FIRE WAS CAUSED BY BURNING ENGINE OIL.
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: 15,800 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50,735 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 8, 1989; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 108,000 lb
- Seats: 101
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-7B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IAH at 12:40 pm
- Destination: CVG Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 44 |
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.