What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During push back of a/c for departure by contract ground handlers. (Signature aviation services) the trailing edge of the rudder on pro air B737-400 contacted the left elevator anti-float tab of midwest express MD-81 parked on an opposite gate in the alleyway. Both the rudder and elevator tab sustained damage. (.19)on September 15, 2000, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737-49R, N461PR, operated by pro air inc., as flight 325, was substantially damaged during pushback for taxi at the La Guardia Airport (lga), flushing, New York. The 2 flight crew members, 3 flight attendants, and 53 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the detroit city airport, detroit, Michigan. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to a federal aviation administration (ffa) inspector, the airplane was being pushed back for gate C-4, by three signature flight support ground crew employees. During the pushback, the airplane's rudder struck the tug operator to stop "several times", before the accident. According to a signature flight support manager the tug operator had been hired and began performing airplane pushbacks in December 1998. The weather reported at lga, at 2051, included a visibility of 10 statue miles, and scattered clouds at 8, 500 feet MSL.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING PUSH BACK OF A/C FOR DEPARTURE BY CONTRACT GROUND HANDLERS. (SIGNATURE AVIATION SERVICES) THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE RUDDER ON PRO AIR B737-400 CONTACTED THE LEFT ELEVATOR ANTI-FLOAT TAB OF MIDWEST EXPRESS MD-81 PARKED ON AN OPPOSITE GATE IN THE ALLEYWAY. BOTH THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR TAB SUSTAINED DAMAGE. (.19)ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2000, ABOUT 2030 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BOEING 737-49R, N461PR, OPERATED BY PRO AIR INC., AS FLIGHT 325, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING PUSHBACK FOR TAXI AT THE LA GUARDIA AIRPORT (LGA), FLUSHING, NEW YORK. THE 2 FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS, 3 FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND 53 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT DESTINED FOR THE DETROIT CITY AIRPORT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE SCHEDULED PASSENGER FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FFA) INSPECTOR, THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING PUSHED BACK FOR GATE C-4, BY THREE SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT GROUND CREW EMPLOYEES. DURING THE PUSHBACK, THE AIRPLANE'S RUDDER STRUCK THE TUG OPERATOR TO STOP "SEVERAL TIMES", BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT MANAGER THE TUG OPERATOR HAD BEEN HIRED AND BEGAN PERFORMING AIRPLANE PUSHBACKS IN DECEMBER 1998. THE WEATHER REPORTED AT LGA, AT 2051, INCLUDED A VISIBILITY OF 10 STATUE MILES, AND SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 8, 500 FEET MSL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.