Aircraft record

N909DL1987 Mcdonnell Douglas Aircraft Co MD-88

DeregisteredNot yet verified by ownerSource: FAA, updated Oct 21, 2026

This N-number isn't registered right now. Below is its last known registration, canceled Dec 6, 2018.

Safety record in brief:1 NTSB accident (substantial damage, Mar 2015)No ADs since 1998 matched119 service difficulty reports

Registration: Deregistered
Last based in: Atlanta, GA; owner city / state
Engine: JT8D SERIES · 7,700 lb thrust; P & W
Owners: 1; since 2015
NTSB events: 1; substantial, 2015
ADs may apply: 0; confirm with A&P
Service reports: 119; since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 21, 2026

Last registered owner: Delta Air Lines INC
Owner type: Corporation
City, state: Atlanta, GA
Certificate issued: Oct 28, 2015
Canceled: Dec 6, 2018
Airworthiness: Experimental · Research and Development, To show compliance with FAR, Exhibition
Airworthiness date: Aug 13, 1987

We never show street addresses, even though they appear in the public FAA file. Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Airframe & engine

FAA Registry + type data

Airframe

Manufacturer: Mcdonnell Douglas Aircraft Co
Model: MD-88
Year: 1987
Serial number: 49540
Aircraft type: Fixed wing multi engine
Category: Land
Certification: Type Certificated
Seats: 142
Engines: 2
Max takeoff weight: 20,000 and over lb
Mode S code: AC90F1

Engine

Make and model: P & W Jt8d Series
Type: Turbo-fan
Power: 7,700 lb thrust

Total time and engine hours aren't public. They appear here once the owner adds logbooks.

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records

2015 – 2018Delta Air Lines INCAtlanta, GA

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 21, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (1)

Accident · substantial damage

Mar 5, 2015 · New York, NY

the captain's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to his application of excessive reverse thrust, which degraded the effectiveness of the rudder in controlling the airplane's heading. Contributing to the accident were the captain's (1) situational stress resulting from his concerns about stopping performance and (2) attentional limitations due to the high workload…

Damage: Substantial
Injuries: None
Report: DCA15FA085

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for DCA15FA085)

Accident history for this model

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (0)

These match the airframe or engine model. Whether each one applies, and whether it's been complied with, depends on serial numbers, equipment and logbook entries. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

No ADs published since 1998 matched this airframe or engine model.

AI-extracted — verify against original. Matched from each AD's applicability section; ADs replaced by a later AD are left out.

Service Difficulty Reports (119)

Reports of failures and defects that operators and repair stations sent to the FAA since 1995. A report describes one finding; it is not an accident.

Structures (general) · none · noneMar 5, 2015
DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT SKIDDED TO THE LT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. MAINTENANCE AND DAMAGE EVALUATION IS IN PROGRESS.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Flight controls · eyebolt · unsecureJan 1, 2015
CREW PERFORMED AN AIR TURN BACK FOLLOWING EXCESSIVE CONTROL PRESSURES REQUIRED ON THE ELEVATOR AND STABILIZER TRIM, NOSE DOWN TO MAINTAIN INTENDED LONGITUDINAL FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE FOUND THE RT ELEVATOR POWER BOOST CYLINDER EYEBOLT NOT SECURED TO THE ELEVATOR. THE SECURING NUT LOST THE COTTER PIN…
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Lights · connector · unsecureNov 7, 2014
DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY LIGHT AT SEAT 16D IN THE CABIN WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE CORRECTED A LOOSE CONNECTION AND THEN OPERATIONALLY CHECKED THE SYSTEM.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.

Show all 10 reports

Stabilizers · spar · crackedSep 18, 2014
HORIZONTAL STABILIZER REAR SPAR FOUND CRACKED. HFEC AREA ONE CRACK, NOTED, REMOVED UPPER & LOWER REAR SPAR ASSY, CUT DAMAGED AREA DIM: 34", MATCH DRILL & TRIMMED NEW UPPER CHORD SECTION -13, REPLACEMENT. LOCATED, DRILLED, DEBURRED, TREATED, PRIMED & INSTALLED REPAIR PARTS, INSTALLED UPPER & LOWER…
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Stabilizers · spar cap · crackedSep 18, 2014
RT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER REAR SPAR UPPER CAP INBD END, 1EA CRITICAL FASTENER HOLE, UPPER-OTBD, HAS A CRACK APPROXIMATELY .2500" LONG. REMOVED REAR, UPPER & LOWER SPAR ASSY AT RT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CUT REAR UPPER SPAR SECTION, 34". MATCH DRILLED, TRIMMED CHORD SECTION -14, LOCATED, DRILLED…
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Doors · skin · dentedSep 11, 2014
L1 DOOR EXTERIOR, SKIN DENTED. CUT OUT DAMAGE. FABRICATED REPAIR DOUBLER, FILLER, TREATED AND PRIMED REPAIR . INSTALLED IAW 52-05, FIG 37, SHEET 1, SRM 51-10-03, SRM 51-10-04.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Lights · battery pack · inoperativeJul 13, 2014
DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE OVERHEAD EMERGENCY LIGHTING FROM THE L2 DOOR TO ROW 27 WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE BATTERY PACKS FOR THE NOTED LIGHTED AREAS AND THE OPS CHECKED GOOD.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Lights · wire · damagedMay 23, 2014
DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THE SEAT MOUNTED EMERGENCY LIGHT AT SEAT 22D WAS INOPERATIVE. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE PIGTAIL AT 22D AND THE LIGHTS RETURNED TO AN OPERATIVE STATE.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Lights · power supply · inoperativeJan 7, 2014
DURING LINE CHECK, MAINTENANCE FOUND THAT THE OVERHEAD EMERGENCY LIGHTS IN ROWS 17-20 INOPERATIVE. REPLACED THE POWER SUPPLY AND OPS CHECKED GOOD.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.
Lights · battery pack · inoperativeNov 23, 2013
DURING LINE CHECK, NOTED EMERGENCY LIGHTS ABOVE AFT OVER WING EXIT DOORS INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BATTERY PACK IN POWER SUPPLY IAW AMM 33-53 AND OPS CHECKED NORMALLY.
From FAA Service Difficulty Reports; matched by N-number and serial number.

Showing the 10 most recent of 119 reports.

Sources

FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 21, 2026
NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 21, 2026
FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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