# Accident 19980311024789A: Fokker F28MK0100, Philadelphia, PA, March 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1998, 21:15 local time
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Airport: Philadelphia International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: USAA
- Location: 39.9897° N, 75.1401° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9897&lon=-75.1401&mi=10
- Aircraft: N863US, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N863US-2003-07-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fokker F.28 MK 0100 (registry code 4990807, https://openairdocs.org/model/fokker-f-28-mk-0100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce TAY-650-15 (registry code 54557, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-tay-650-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOKKER F28MK0100
- Reported engine: RROYCE TAY65015
- People aboard: 87
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 21,717 total, 4,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980311024789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE AT NIGHT, A FUEL TRUCK TRAVELLING EASTBOUND ON THE OUTER SERVICE ROAD STRUCK THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE AIRPLANE, THAT OVERHUNG THE OUTER SERVICE ROAD. THE FUEL TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT HE SAW THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED OFF THE GATE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE NOTICED THE GROUND CREW WERE IN THE PROCESS OF UNHOOKING FROM THE AIRPLANE.  HE SAW THE ROAD WAS CLEAR, AND THEN HE SAW THE TUG SWINGING WIDE ONTO THE SERVICE ROAD, AND COMING TOWARDS HIM.  HE SAID, '...I DIVERTED MY ATTENTION TO THE TUG DRIVER...IN A SPLIT SECOND AS I MADE GESTURE TO LOOK BACK AND THEN LOOK BACK UP I WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD... .'  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT US AIRWAYS HAD CONDUCTED A TWO MAN PUSH BACK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR GROUND PROCEDURES MANUAL.  THE US AIRWAYS GROUND PROCEDURES MANUAL DID NOT REQUIRE A SAFETY PERSON WITH ILLUMINATED WANDS TO BE PRESENT AT THE SERVICE ROAD WHEN A PORTION OF THE AIRPLANE COVERED THE SERVICE ROAD.  THE FOKKER F-100 WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH REAR SIDE WING TIP LIGHTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA075), Mar 12, 1998: Fokker F-100 (N863US), Philadelphia, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The driver's failure to maintain clearance from the parked airplane. Related factors were night conditions and the driver's diverted attention.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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