Ryan International Airlines Flight 590

A McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 similar to the aircraft involved

The aircraft involved was a 22-year-old McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15RC (Rapid Change) registered as N565PC. The -15 is a subvariant of the series 10 of DC-9s.

The accident aircraft first flew in 1968 and was delivered to Continental Airlines as a passenger aircraft in July of that same year, registered as N8919. The aircraft operated with Continental for five years. In October 1973, the aircraft was delivered to Hughes Airwest and re-registered as N9351. In October 1980, the aircraft was transferred to Republic Airlines, which operated the aircraft until June 1984, when it was converted into a freighter and delivered to Purolater Courier. Three months later, the aircraft was registered as N565PC. In October 1987, the aircraft was transferred to Emery Worldwide Airlines. Ryan International Airlines began to operate the aircraft in 1989, though it was still owned by Emery Worldwide Airlines at the time of the accident.[4]

The captain was 44-year-old David Reay. He had flown with Ryan Air International since 1989 and logged 10,505 flight hours, including 505 hours on the DC-9.[2]^: 5–6[5] Reay was described "as a pilot with average skills who took criticism well," and "having very good command authority and being smooth on the controls." However, Reay had been involved in disciplinary action at the airline twice. The first was in August 1990, when he landed an aircraft without computing the proper data. The second was when he gained access to the jumpseat of an aircraft operated by a different airline by using an unauthorized identity card. Reay received a written warning on the first offense and a verbal warning on the second. Reay had also been involved in a business venture where he distributed literature claiming that he was in a partnership with the airline. After a talk with the airline's president, Reay reclaimed the literature. Reay had previously made a similar claim with another flight position, which resulted in him being removed from it. Despite this activity, Reay had no criminal arrests, nor had he been involved any vehicular accidents.[2]^: 87–88[6]

The first officer was 28-year-old Richard Duney Jr., who was far less experienced than captain Reay, having only been with the airline since January 28, 1991, less than a month before the accident. However, prior to joining RIA, he had been a pilot for a commuter airline from 1986 to 1989 and had served as a first officer on the DC-9 with USAir, but was laid off in 1991. Duney had 3,820 flight hours, with 510 of them on the DC-9.[2]^: 6, 88

The airline's chief pilot described Duney as "very personable and eager to do a good job." However, on March 28, 1990, Duney was involved in a car accident, though no charges were filed. Duney did not have any criminal history.[2]^: 88

At 23:50, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued the following weather report at CLE:

Time--2350; type--record special; ceiling--indefinite, 1,500 feet obscured; visibility--1 mile variable; weather-- light snow; temperature--23°F; dewpoint--19°F; wind-- 220 degrees at 14 knots; altimeter--29.91 inches; remarks-- runway 5R visual range 6,000 feet plus, visibility 3/4 mile variable 1 1/2 miles.[2]^: 7

— National Weather Service

The National Aviation Weather Unit (NAWU) warned pilots flying into Ohio that there were icing conditions and turbulence. No AIRMETs (airman's meteorological information) were in effect.[2]^: 9–10 The NWS forecast at CLE was as follows:

Ceiling 1,000 feet obscured, visibility 1 mile in light snow and blowing snow, wind 220 degrees 20 knots gusting to 30 knots. Occasionally ceiling 2,000 feet overcast, visibility 4 miles in light snow. Low-level windshear. After 2300: ceiling 4,000 feet overcast, visibility 5 miles in light snow, wind 210 degrees 18 knots gusting to 28 knots. Occasionally ceiling 2,000 feet overcast, visibility 2 miles in light snow and blowing snow. Low-level windshear. After 0700: ceiling 4,500 feet overcast, wind 320 degrees 7 knots, chance of light snow showers. After 1400: VFR.[2]^: 9–10

— National Weather Service

In other words, the weather was dangerously cold with the temperature at 23 °F (−5 °C), enough to cause ice to accumulate on aircraft, and the dew point at 19 °F (−7 °C). There was light snow and strong winds blowing at 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h), increasing the risk of windshear. Pilots could only operate under instrument flight rules until 14:00 the next day.[2]^: 10

Flight 590 departed Buffalo at 22:55 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on February 16. The flight landed at Cleveland at 23:44.[2]^: 1

During Flight 590's approach into Cleveland, two other flights (one which had just departed and another one which was landing) both reported icing conditions. The approach controller told Flight 590 during its approach: "two pilot reports moderate rime icing reported 7,000 feet (2,100 m) on to the surface during the descent that was by a 727, and also moderate chop turbulence from 4,000 feet (1,200 m) on to the surface." The crew of Flight 590 acknowledged the transmission.[2]^: 1

After landing, the aircraft taxied to the mail ramp where mail bound for Cleveland was unloaded and new mail bound for Indianapolis was loaded. Dry, blowing snow fell during the time that the aircraft was parked. Despite the freezing cold temperatures, none of the flights that were departing Cleveland (including Flight 590) requested deicing. The crew of Flight 590 did not exit the aircraft to inspect it for any signs of icing as required.[2]^: 1

At 00:06 on February 17, first officer Duney requested departure clearance from air traffic control (ATC). The controller stated:

Ryan five ninety Cleveland clearance cleared to the Indianapolis airport as filed climb and maintain five expect flight level two six zero one two (12) minutes after departure departure frequency will be one two four point zero squawk five seven seven three.[2]^: 2, 67

At 00:08, due to the freezing temperatures and snow, the pilots activated the engine anti-ice system, which uses engine heat to prevent sensors from freezing, ensuring accurate instrument readings. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded the following conversation snippet (CAM is short for Cockpit Area Microphone, RDO is short for radio, -1 is the captain, -2 is the first officer, and -? indicates an unidentified voice):

00:08:49 CAM-2 Ignition?

00:08:50 CAM-1 It's now off.

00:08:52 CAM-2 Off. Electrical power checked. Engine anti-ice?

00:08:55 CAM-1 I just turned it on.

— Transcript, Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 Cockpit Voice Recorder[2]^: 71

At 00:09, first officer Dunney requested taxi clearance. The tower controller instructed the flight to "taxi [to] runway two three left via Juliet and the ramp." A minute later, the controller reminded the flight about the braking conditions (no flights had landed while Flight 590 was on the ground):

00:10:58 TWR Ryan five ninety last braking I had was ah when you arrived I believe you called it fair.

00:11:01 CAM-1 That's correct.

00:11:03 RDO-2 Five ninety roger.

— Transcript, Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 Cockpit Voice Recorder[2]^: 74

At 00:14, Continental Airlines Flight 1238 informed the tower controller that they were on approach to the same runway. The controller cleared Flight 1238 to land, informing them about Flight 590's braking conditions. At 00:17 Flight 590 lined up on runway 23L, and one minute later, at 00:18, was cleared for takeoff:[2]

00:18:17.5 TWR Ryan five ninety cleared for takeoff fly ah runway heading.

0018:18 CAM-1 On.

RDO-1 Okay we're two three left and we appreciate your help.

0018:24.4 TWR You're very welcome wind two three zero at one two.

— Transcript, Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 Cockpit Voice Recorder[2]^: 84

At 00:18:24.6 Flight 590 commenced its takeoff roll from runway 23L. The engine anti-ice system was on during the takeoff roll.[2]^: 16–17 First officer Dunney was the pilot flying, and the following was recorded by the CVR:

00:18:24.6 [SOUND OF ENGINES INCREASE IN SPEED]

00:18:27.0 RDO-1 Hay [sic] that's a captain's winds.

00:18:29.0 TWR Allright. [sic]

00:18:31.1 CAM-1 Okay air speed's alive.

00:18:33.0 CAM-1 Engines are stabilized, power's set for departure.

00:18:37.5 CAM-1 Fuel's even kind'a balanced.

00:18:39.4 CAM-1 One hundred knots.

00:18:41.3 [SOUND SIMILAR TO RUNWAY NOISE (BANGING)]

0018:44.9 CAM-1 V₁.

0018:45.9 CAM-1 Rotate.

0018:48.3 CAM-1 V₂.

0018:49.2 CAM-1 Plus ten.

00:18:50.4 CAM-1 Positive rate.

00:18:51.2 CAM-1 Watch out.

00:18:51.7 CAM-1 Watch out.

00:18:52.1 CAM-1 Watch out.

00:18:52.3 [SOUND SIMILAR TO ENGINE COMPRESSOR SURGES START]

00:18:53.1 [SOUND SIMILAR TO STICK SHAKER STARTS]

00:18:55.5 [SOUND OF ENGINE COMPRESSOR SURGES STOPS]

00:18:55.8 RDO-? [SOUND OF OPEN MIKE KEY FOR 0.45 SECONDS]

00:18:56.0 [SOUND OF STICK SHAKER STOPS]

00:18:56.78 [SOUND OF FIRST IMPACT]

00:18:56.82 [SOUND OF SECOND LOUDER IMPACT]

00:18:57.4 RDO-? [SOUND OF OPEN MIKE STARTS AND CONTINUES UNTIL END OF RECORDING]

00:18:57.6 END OF RECORDING

— Transcript, Ryan International Airlines Flight 590 Cockpit Voice Recorder[2]^: 84–86

Captain Reay called out "rotate" at 00:18:45.9 and the aircraft lifted off. Almost immediately after, however, the aircraft began to bank left, as indicated by the flight data recorder.[2]^: 26 This was also mentioned in statements from the tower controller and other witnesses. Several witnesses even went as far as to state that they saw an explosion before the aircraft crashed.[2]^: 26[7] According to the CVR, captain Reay called out "watch out" three consecutive times. Both engines began to experience compressor stalls and the stick shaker activated, both lasting for about three seconds. The aircraft rolled 90° to the left and entered a stall. At 00:18:57, the aircraft crashed back onto runway 23L, the left wing contacted the ground first, followed by the rest of the aircraft.[2]^: 13–14 The aircraft then flipped over and skidded along the runway, causing the cockpit and forward fuselage to separate and were destroyed.[2]^: 13–14 Both pilots were killed on impact by extreme trauma.[2]^{: 2–3, 17} The passengers and crew on Continental Airlines Flight 1238 witnessed the accident.[8]

The NTSB published its final report nearly nine months later, stating:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the flightcrew to detect and remove ice contamination on the airplane's wings, which was largely a result of a lack of appropriate response by the Federal Aviation Administration, Douglas Aircraft Company, and Ryan International Airlines to the known critical effect that a minute amount of contamination has on the stall characteristics of the DC-9 series 10 airplane. The ice contamination led to wing stall and loss of control during the attempted takeoff.[2]^: 44

The NTSB determined that the accident had been caused by the icing contamination as a result of the flight crew failing to conduct an external examination of the aircraft after landing in cold weather, as well as the failure of the FAA, McDonnell Douglas, and Ryan International Airlines to respond appropriately from previous ice-related accidents, and their lack of understanding of icing condition of the DC-9-10 aircraft.[2]^: 49

Six safety recommendations were issued to the FAA, and recommendation A-88-134 was reiterated.[13] However, the FAA again disagreed with this recommendation.[2]^: 53[14]

NTSB chairman James L. Kolstad, and vice chairman Susan Coughlin both gave dissenting statements; both of them agreed that pilot error was the cause of the crash, though they also stated that the failure of the airline industry as a whole to properly understand deicing was a cause of the accident.[2] Kolstad stated:

My colleagues believe that this last failure -- the failure to inspect -- was the result of poor organizational performance. The aircraft in question is especially susceptible to lift problems with wing ice. Because this problem was known but apparently not clearly communicated to the accident crew, the majority believe that the air carrier, the aircraft manufacturer, and the Federal Aviation Administration were in the direct line of causation [of this accident].[2]^: 54

— James L. Kolstad, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, Final report

Vice chairman Coughlin stated that the NTSB should revise its probable cause to read the following:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the flightcrew to detect and remove ice contamination on the airplane's wings, in part because of a lack of cohesive action by the aviation community at large directed at the known critical effect that a minute amount of contamination has on the stall characteristics of the DC-9 Series 10 airplane, which can lead to wing stall and loss of control during an attempted takeoff.[2]^: 56

— Susan M. Coughlin, Vice Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, Final report

The NTSB did not revise its probable cause on Flight 590. However, when USAir Flight 405 crashed in 1992 in icing conditions, the NTSB would state that the aviation industry's poor oversight was a cause of that crash.[15]