Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 and British Aerospace J-3100 accident near Dfw Airport, Texas, July 27, 1991
On July 27, 1991 at about 8:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 (N491AA) and British Aerospace J-3100 (N405AE), were involved in the same accident near Dfw Airport, Texas (Dallas Fort Worth airport). No one was hurt; 132 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CAPTAIN MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE STANDING COMMUTER AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE SECOND PILOT TO IDENTIFY A HYDROPLANE CONDITION.
THE CAPTAIN OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE STANDING COMMUTER AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE BY THE SECOND PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE TO IDENTIFY A HAZARDOUS CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1991 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Dfw Airport, Texas · Dallas Fort Worth
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 132 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registration
- N491AA · no longer on the register · serial 49684
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- British Aerospace J-3100
- Registration
- N405AE · registry record · serial 650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO COMMUTER AIRCRAFT WERE INSTRUCTED TO TAXI ON TAXIWAY F, TURN RIGHT INTO TAXIWAY 32, AND HOLD FOR DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 36R. THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY THE MD-80 WHICH REMAINED ON TAXIWAY F AND WAS CLEARED TO TAXI PAST AND BEHIND THE COMMUTERS. THE PILOT OF THE MD-80 ATTEMPTED TO TAXI BY THE STANDING AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT WING TIP OF THE MD-80 STRUCK THE TAIL CONE AREA OF THE STANDING COMMUTER AIRPLANE. THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE MD-80 STATED HE AND HIS CAPTAIN WERE BUSY IN THE COCKPIT WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the British Aerospace J-3100 final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO COMMUTER AIRCRAFT WERE INSTRUCTED TO TAXI ON TAXIWAY F, TURN RIGHT INTO TAXIWAY 32, AND HOLD FOR DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 36R. THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY THE MD-80 WHICH REMAINED ON TAXIWAY F AND WAS CLEARED TO TAXI PAST AND BEHIND THE COMMUTERS. THE PILOT OF THE MD-80 ATTEMPTED TO TAXI BY THE STANDING AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT WING TIP OF THE MD-80 STRUCK THE TAIL CONE AREA OF THE STANDING COMMUTER AIRPLANE. THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE MD-80 STATED HE AND HIS CAPTAIN WERE BUSY IN THE COCKPIT WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED.
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 for the Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1,220 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 161,000 lb
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-217 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 117 |
The factual record for the British Aerospace J-3100 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,900 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 3,000 as pilot in command; 280 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,472 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 23, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,212 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Airlines
The flight
- Destination: SPS Wichita Falls TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.