AirSafetyOnline.com
Northwest flight 255 was preparing for takeoff on the evening of August 16, 1987. Bound for Phoenix and continuing on to Orange County, the DC-9 was carrying 148* passengers and six crew members. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff on Detroit Metro's runway 03C and began its takeoff roll. After an longer than normal roll, the aircraft lifted off and immediately began rocking laterally.

crashDataBase.com
Location: Romulus, Michigan
Airline: NWA Northwest Airlines
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas Super MD-80 (MD-82)
Registration: N312RC
Fatalities/No. Aboard: 154:155 +2
Details: The aircraft stalled and crashed during takeoff from Metro Airport. A 4-year-old girl was the only survivor. Slats and flaps not extended. Crew's failure to use taxi checklist to ensure flaps and slats were extended. Lack of electrical power to the aircraft takeoff warning system.

Dnausers.d-n-a.net
Date: August 16, 1987
Type: McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-82
Registration: N312RC
Operator: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
Where: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan
Report No. NTSB-AAR-88-05
Report Date: May 10, 1988
Pages: 138
Executive Summary: About 2046 eastern daylight time on August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines, Inc., flight 255 crashed shortly after taking off from runway 3 center at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan. Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82, U.S. Registry N312RC, was a regularly scheduled passenger flight and was en route to Phoenix, Arizona, with 149 passengers and 6 crewmembers.

Statenews.com
Images of Flight 255 still haunt Michigan
‘U’ remembers professor killed in 1987 crash

James Burnett boarded an airplane 10 years ago planning to work as a consultant to an aircraft company. Ten years ago Saturday, that plane crashed seconds after taking off from Detroit�s Metro Airport. Of the 155* people aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 255, 154 lost their lives when the plane crashed into a bridge on I-94 in Romulus.

Geocities.com/pilots movie/
Date:08/16/1987 Location: Romulus, Michigan This section includes some selection of actual air disaster voice recordings. Click the icon below to listen.

Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashed on takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 1987. The crew, in a hurry to takeoff to beat noise curfews at their destination, failed to set their wing flaps.

NTSB.gov
NTSB Identification: DCA87MA046. The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 33859. 14 CFRPart 121 operation of Air Carrier

NORTHWEST AIRLINES, INC. accident occurred Sunday, August 16, 1987 at Romulus, MI Aircraft:MCDonnell Douglas DC-9-82, registration: N312RC Injuries: 156* Fatal, 2 Serious, 4 Minor. Northwest Flight 255 crashed after takeoff from runway 3C at Detroit Metro Airport.. Witnesses said NW255 rotated for takeoff 1200-1500 feet from the end and lifted off near the end of the 8500 foot runway.