NTSB Identification: DCA85AA031 For details, refer to NTSB microfiche number 27873A

Scheduled 14 CFR 121 operation of DELTA AIRLINES, INC.
Accident occurred AUG-02-85 at DALLAS/FT WORTH, TX
Aircraft: LOCKHEED L-1011-385-1, registration: N726DA
Injuries: 135 Fatal, 15 Serious, 13 Minor, 2 Uninjured.

PSBL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WERE FORCAST & DRG ARRIVAL, SVRL CELLS WERE DEVELOPING IN THE AREA. DELTA FLT 191 WAS VECTORED ARND A LARGE CELL, THEN WAS SEQUENCED BHND OTHER ACFT & CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 17L APCH. THE FLT CREW & SVRL PRECEEDING CREWS SAW LIGHTNING IN A CELL NORTH OF THE ARPT, BUT CONTD W/O RPRTG IT. ON THE APCH, FLT 191 ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST WHILE PASSING UNDER THE CELL. INITIALLY, THE 1ST OFFICER, WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT, RETARDED THE THROTTLES IN A HEADWIND. THE ACFT THEN ENCOUNTERED APRX 73 KTS OF WINDSHEAR, UP/DWNDFTS, VORTEX FLOW & A TAILWIND. GO-AROUND PWR WAS APPLIED, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GND APRX 6300' NORTH OF RWY 17L, HIT A CAR & 2 WATER TANKS, BROKE APART & BURNED. INV REVEALED THAT BTN 1752 & 1800 CDT, THE TSTM CELL GREW FM VIP LVL 1 TO VIP LVL 4. A CENTER WX SVC UNIT METEOROLOGIST WAS ON DUTY, BUT NOT AT THE RADAR PSN AT THAT TIME & DIDN'T OBSV THE CELL GROWTH. CAPT'S DECISION TO CONT APCH DIDN'T COMPLY WITH DELTA'S WX AVOIDANCE PROC; THERE WAS A LACK OF SPECIFIC GUIDANCE & TRAINING FOR AVOIDING/ESCAPING LOW ALT WNDSHEAR.

Probable Cause

Flight into known adverse weather..Continued..Pilot in command
Procedure inadequate..Company/operator management
Inadequate training(emergency procedure(s))..Company/operator management

Contributing Factors

Weather condition..Thunderstorm
In flight weather avoidance assistance..Inadequate..no person specified
Insufficient staff - surveillance of operation..FAA(organization)
Weather condition..Lightning
Flight advisories..Not issued..Pilot of other aircraft
Weather condition..Rain
Weather condition..Windshear
Weather condition..Unfavorable wind
Weather condition..Downdraft
Object..Vehicle
Object..Airport facility

NTSB - Aviation accidents index


Delta Air Lines Flt 191 CVR Readout


Thanks to Paul Haven.


S/O:     Landing Check complete

F/O:     OK, Thank you

CA:      This stuff is moving in

F/O:     We're gonna get our airplane washed

S/O:     I've got lightning to the right there, Bill

F/O:     Yah, I see lightning coming out of that one

CA:      What?

F/O:     There's lightning coming out of that one!

CA:      Where?

F/O:     Right ahead of us





TWR:     Delta 191 Heavy, runway 17 Left cleared to land

RDO:     Delta 191 cleared to land.  Tower say winds.

TWR:     Winds are 010 at 5 knots gusting to 15 knots.

RDO:     Roger three sixty at five.





CA:      Watch your speed!

F/O:     Damn.

S/O:     (Unintelligible) idle

TWR:     Delta 166 Contact Departure

CA:      You're gonna lose it all of the sudden, there it is!

CA:      Push it up!  Push it way up!

CA:      Way up!

F/O:     Way up!





[Sound of Engine Spoolup]





CA:      That's it

CA:      Hang on to the son of a bitch!

F/O:     What's the vee-ref

GPWS:    Whoop Whoop Pull Up!

CA:      Toga

GPWS:    Whoop Whoop Pull Up!

CA:      Push it way up!

GPWS:    Whoop Whoop Pull Up!

GPWS:    Whoop Whoop Pull Up!





[Sound of Radio Altimeters Beeping (First bounce)]





Unknown: Shit!

Unknown: Oh Shit!





[Sound of Second Impact]





TWR:     Delta go Around!