​​​On December 3, 1990, at 1344 eastern standard time, Northwest Airlines flight 1482, A McDonnell Douglas DC-9, and Northwest Airlines flight 299, a Boeing 727, collided near the intersection of runways 09/27 and 03C/21C in dense fog at Detroit Metropolitan/ Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan.  At the time of the collision, the B-727 was on its takeoff roll, and the DC-9 had just taxiid into the active runway.  The B-727 was substantially damaged and the DC-9 was destoyed.  Eight of the 39 passengers and 4 crewmembers aboard the DC-9 received fatal injuries.  None of the 146 passengers and 10 crewmembers aboard the B-727 were injured. 

​​We determined that the probable cause of this accident was a loack of proper crew coordination, including a virtual reversal of roles by the DC-9 pilots, which led to their failure to stop taxiing their airplane and alert the ground controller of their positional uncertainty in a timely manner before and after intruding onto the active runway.  

Contributing to the cause of the accident were (1) deficiences in the air traffic control services provided by the Detroit tower, including failure of the ground controller to take timely action to alert the local controller to the possible runway incursion, inadequate visibility observations, failure to use progressive taxi instructions in low-visibility conditions, and issuance of inappropriate and confusing taxi instructions compounded by the inadequate backup supervision for the level of experience of the staff on duty; (2) deficiences in the surface markings, signage, and surveillance to detect or correct any of these deficiences; and (3) failure of Northwest Airlines, Inc., to provide adequate cockpit reouces management training to their line aircrews. 

Contributing to the fatalities in the accident was the inoperability of the DC-( internal tailcone release mechanism.  Contributing to the number and severity of injuries was the failure of the crew of the DC-9 to properly execute the passenger evacuation. 

​​As a result of the investigation, we issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration. the Detroit, Metropolitan/Wayne County Airport, and Northwest Airlines.