Dulles Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chantilly, Virginia 20041
Friday, January 28, 1994 9:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On January 28, 1994, Valujet Airlines flight 61, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3339L, exited the runway during a rejected takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia. The airplane was damaged but there were no injuries to the 5 crewmembers or 101 passengers aboard. While on the takeoff roll on runway 01 right, the captain stated that as the airplane accelerated to about 80 knots, the airplane began to drift to the right of centerline. The captain elected to reject the takeoff and applied reverse engine thrust, however, the airplane exited off the left side of the runway. No additional information is available.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flightcrew's failure to maintain directional control during a rejected takeoff. Contributing factors were the wet and icy runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 1/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CHANTILLY
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20041
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DULLES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IAD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 313
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IA
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 31
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 106
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22729
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2007 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3339L
NTSB Number DCA94IA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Douglas
Aircraft Model DC-9-32
Aircraft Series Identifier DC-9-32
Aircraft Serial Number 901
Certified Max Gross Weight 108000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 118
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 64757
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VALUJET
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 PHOENIX BLVD., SUITE 126
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30349
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VALUE JET AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1800 PHOENIX BLVD., SUITE 126
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30349
Operator Code VJA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code IAD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1R
Runway Length 11500
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --