Accident Overview
On a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Saginaw, Michigan to Santa Ana, California, with en route stops at Detroit and Phoenix, Arizona, Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82, was destroyed when it crashed onto a road during takeoff from Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan, USA. The flight departed Saginaw at about 18:53 and arrived at its gate at Detroit at about 19:42. At about 20:32, flight 255 departed the gate with 149 passengers and 6 crewmembers on board.
Pre-Takeoff Events
During pushback, the flightcrew accomplished the BEFORE (engine) START portion of the airplane checklist. At 20:33, they began starting the engines. The flight was cleared to "taxi via the ramp, hold short of (taxiway) delta and expect runway three center [3C]" for takeoff. The ground controller later amended the clearance, requiring the flight to exit the ramp at taxiway Charlie. The crew was requested to change radio frequencies. The first officer repeated the taxi clearance but did not repeat the new radio frequency nor tune the radio to that frequency.
At 20:37, the captain asked if runway 3C could be used, as they had expected runways 21L or 21R. After consulting the Runway Takeoff Weight Chart Manual, the first officer confirmed runway 3C was suitable. During taxi, the captain missed the turnoff at taxiway C. The ground controller redirected them to taxi to runway 3C and again requested a frequency change. The first officer then changed frequencies and contacted the east ground controller, who gave a new taxi route, advised that windshear alerts were in effect, and reported the altimeter setting as 29.85 inHg. The flightcrew acknowledged.
Takeoff and Crash
At 20:42, the local controller cleared flight 255 to taxi into position on runway 3C and hold, with a 3-minute delay for in-trail separation. At 20:44:04, the flight was cleared for takeoff. Engine power began increasing at 20:44:21. The flightcrew initially could not engage the autothrottle system but succeeded at 20:44:38. The first officer called 100 knots at 20:44:45 and "Rotate" at 20:44:57. Eight seconds later, the stall warning stick shaker activated, accompanied by voice warnings from the supplemental stall recognition system (SSRS). The takeoff warning system, which would indicate improper configuration, did not sound at any time before or during takeoff.
After becoming airborne, the airplane began rolling left and right. The left wing struck a light pole in a rental car lot. The airplane continued rolling left, struck another light pole in a second rental car lot, and then struck the side wall of the roof of an auto rental facility. It continued rolling left, impacted the ground on a road outside the airport boundary, slid along the road, struck a railroad embankment, and disintegrated. Fires erupted in scattered airplane components. Three occupied vehicles on the road and numerous vacant vehicles in the rental car lots were destroyed by impact and/or fire.
Occupants and Casualties
One of the 155 occupants survived the accident. Additionally, two persons on the ground were killed. One passenger, a 4-year-old child, was injured seriously.