MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO MD-88
Atlanta, GA — October 7, 2011
Event Information
| Date | October 7, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA038 |
| Event ID | 20111018X03714 |
| Location | Atlanta, GA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.63528, -84.42028 |
| Airport | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO |
| Model | MD-88 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 121 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 81 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The tug driver's inadequate control of the tug while maneuvering the airplane during pushback.
Full Narrative
According to the tug driver, during pushback of the airplane from the gate, he turned the airplane early in order avoid an airplane at an adjacent gate. He further stated that he did not straighten the tug in time and impacted the airplane which resulted in substantial damage to airplane's nose landing gear support beam and a puncture in the pressure vessel. According to the pilot of the flight, during pushback the airplane overshot the centerline and was being corrected back to the line when he observed the tug continue aft and then heard a metallic sound. The pilot further stated that the pushback did not appear to be too fast and there appeared to be only minor directional control problems with the tug until the impact.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.