Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 accident near Monroe, Louisiana, January 6, 1995
On January 6, 1995 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, registered N981DL, was involved in an accident near Monroe, Louisiana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 69 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight encounter with weather during a climb, resulting in an injury to a flight attendant who got out of her seat to perform a duty.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1995 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 69 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88
- Registration
- N981DL · no longer on the register · serial 53268
- 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 Captain stated that the airplane encountered light-to-moderate turbulence on climb-out. The cabin seat belt signs were illuminated, and the flight attendants were briefed to remain seated. The airplane weather avoidance radar was on and no significant weather was present on the radar screen. An overhead compartment had opened up in the cabin area, and a flight attendant got up to secure the compartment. The airplane encountered a couple seconds of intense moderate turbulence, and the flight attendant collided with the cabin overhead panels. The flight diverted to another airport to obtain medical treatment for the injured flight attendant. Review of the digital flight data recorder revealed the airplane experienced a vertical excursion of 1.9 g's.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,336 hours in all; 2,769 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,507 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 5, 1995; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 140,000 lb
- Seats: 144
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: MLU Monroe LA at 3:16 pm
- Destination: PNS Pensacola FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MLU, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 66 |
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.