Casualties unknown

DC-9 Takes Off on Taxiway Instead of Runway at Airport (N405EA)

Philadelphia, PA, US

On January 18, 1990, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51 (registration N405EA) was involved in an aviation accident near Philadelphia, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE FLIGHT CREW OF EAL121 TAKING OFF ON A TAXIWAY. CONTRIBUTING WAS FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CREW OF EAL 121 TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAXI AND TAKEOFF. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A DC-9 aircraft was observed by tower personnel to take off on a taxiway, confirmed by radar and flight data recorder. The takeoff occurred just before civil twilight. The runway and taxiway have different markings and lighting.

Incident

According to the investigation, a DC-9 aircraft was observed by control tower personnel to take off on a taxiway. This observation was corroborated by radar data from the airport and a readout of the flight data recorder. The takeoff occurred just prior to the start of civil twilight in the morning.

Lighting and Markings

The runway features white centerline markings, white edge lighting, and white markings. In contrast, the taxiway had yellow markings and green centerline lighting. These differences in lighting and markings are standard for distinguishing runways from taxiways.

Crew Statements

The captain stated that he remembered white centerline lighting during the takeoff. The copilot reported that he saw centerline lights and believed they were white. The source does not provide further details on the crew's actions or the reason for the confusion.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22481. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.