Douglas DC-9-82 accident near Hickman, Kentucky, January 19, 1988
On January 19, 1988 at about 6:07 pm local time, a Douglas DC-9-82, registered N915TW, was involved in an accident near Hickman, Kentucky. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 95 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1988 · about 6:07 pm local time
- Place
- Hickman, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 95 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-9-82 · all DC-9-82s on the register
- Registration
- N915TW · registry record · serial 49186
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CAPT LEFT THE SEAT BELT SIGN ON AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS MADE A FOLLOWUP ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE PASSENGERS TO REMAIN SEATED AND KEEP THEIR SEATBELTS FASTENED DUE TO THE TURBULENCE THEY WERE ENCOUNTERING. A PASSENGER ELECTED TO GET UP FROM HER SEAT AND GO TO THE AFT LAVATORY. AS THE PASSENGER WAS LEAVING THE AFT LAVATORY THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE PASSENGER AND A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST HER WERE THROWN TO THE FLOOR AND RECEIVED INJURIES.
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: 7,966 hours in all; 2,935 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,560 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 21, 1987; 775 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 145,300 lb
- Seats: 150
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-217 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trans World Airlines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: STL St Louis MO at 5:36 pm
- Destination: RSW Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from DYR, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 90 |
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.