What happened
During a descent into Cleveland, the aircraft encountered weather conditions suitable for the accumulation of ice on the airframe. Following a 35-minute period on the ground in snowy conditions, the aircraft attempted takeoff. Shortly after departing the runway, the DC-9-10 experienced an aerodynamic stall and rolled into the ground. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both pilots were killed in the impact.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew did not perform an external inspection of the wings to check for ice buildup before departure. At the time of the incident, there was no operational requirement for the crew to conduct such a preflight check. Furthermore, the flight crew had not received specific training regarding how wing contamination impacts the flight characteristics of the aircraft.
It was noted that both the manufacturer and the FAA had been aware for several years that the DC-9-10 series is susceptible to loss of control due to wing contamination. However, no corrective measures were implemented to update the approved flight manual with necessary information regarding these risks.