# Accident 20030422009199A: Doug MD88, Denver, CO, April 22, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 2003, 13:01 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Denver International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: DALA
- Location: 39.8583° N, 104.6669° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8583&lon=-104.6669&mi=10
- Aircraft: N974DL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N974DL-2023-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 (registry code 3023688, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D series (registry code 52053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG MD88
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,941 total, 2,113 in this make and model, 190 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN03FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030422009199A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT ARRIVED DEN AS DELTA FLT. 1185 AT 09:51. OUTBOUND FLT. 964 WAS DELAYED DUE TO MAINT. ON A SLAT WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM. A/C PUSHED BACK AT 1206 MDT. AFTER TUG AND TOW BAR REMOVED, CAPT. CALLED WITH ANOTHER SLAT LIGHT PROBLEM. MAINT. TOLD CAPT. TO BRING A/C BACK TO GATE. A/C WAS TAXIED BACK TO GATE. MAINT. M.E.L. ED. THE LIGHT AND A/C WAS PUSHED BACK A 2ND TIME WITH TUG AND TOW BAR. PRIOR TO THE TUG AND TOW BAR BEING REMOVED, A/C MOVED FORWARD UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THIS CAUSED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE TOCONTACT THE TUG RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TOW BAR BEING ATTACHED TO THE TUG CAUSED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR TO PIVOT BEYOND THE 180' RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE LINKAGE AND STEERING MECH. ALL INFO. IS BEING COORDINATED WITH DELTA CMO. PILOT AND 1ST OFFICER STATEMENTS ARE ATTACHED EXPLAINING THE ACCIDENT CAUSAL FACTORS.

## 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 DEN03FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA070), Apr 22, 2003: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 (N974DL), Denver, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight crew's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in engine start with the throttles advanced and the subsequent impact with the tug. Contributing factors include, the flight…

## Other reports on N974DL (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19951228046629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951228046629I), Dec 28, 1995: Doug MD88 (N974DL), Pittsburgh, PA. Narrative: on t/o roll at 85 kn. Pilot heard bang. A/c pulled left. L/h engine instruments showed ni on spool down. Aborted t/o. smell of light smoke in cabin.…

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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