What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At approximately 1922 local northwest airlines flight number 1569, N776NC, a DC-9-51 aircraft, was struck by a tug, which fatally injured the tug operator. Passengers were boarding the aircraft and the crew was preparing for push back. A northwest employee was operating the tug (owned by northwest) for positioning and connection of the towbar, which was attached to the aircraft. After the flight crew completed the preflight checklist, they felt a "thump" under the aircraft. Since no communicaiton had been established with the ground crew, the first officer went out to assess the situation. The first officer observed that the tug driver was trapped between the tug and the aircraft. The tug was not connected to the towbar, and the parking brake was not set. The tug was inspected after the accident and no anomalies were noted. The only other ground crewman was loading baggage at the rear of the aircraft and did not see what happened prior to the tug contacting the aircraft. At the time of the accident, ramp visibility was limited due to a pending storm. The tug operator was experienced and had completed the required company training. There was minor damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1922 LOCAL NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT NUMBER 1569, N776NC, A DC-9-51 AIRCRAFT, WAS STRUCK BY A TUG, WHICH FATALLY INJURED THE TUG OPERATOR. PASSENGERS WERE BOARDING THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CREW WAS PREPARING FOR PUSH BACK. A NORTHWEST EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE TUG (OWNED BY NORTHWEST) FOR POSITIONING AND CONNECTION OF THE TOWBAR, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER THE FLIGHT CREW COMPLETED THE PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST, THEY FELT A "THUMP" UNDER THE AIRCRAFT. SINCE NO COMMUNICAITON HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THE GROUND CREW, THE FIRST OFFICER WENT OUT TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. THE FIRST OFFICER OBSERVED THAT THE TUG DRIVER WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN THE TUG AND THE AIRCRAFT. THE TUG WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE TOWBAR, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. THE TUG WAS INSPECTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED. THE ONLY OTHER GROUND CREWMAN WAS LOADING BAGGAGE AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DID NOT SEE WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE TUG CONTACTING THE AIRCRAFT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, RAMP VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED DUE TO A PENDING STORM. THE TUG OPERATOR WAS EXPERIENCED AND HAD COMPLETED THE REQUIRED COMPANY TRAINING. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N776NC · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.