What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft N904ME was pushed back from gate 36 and was positioned behind aircraft N923ME, which was parked at gate 34. As aircraft N904ME initiated a left turn during its taxi out, the leading and trailing edge of the right hand horizontal stabilizer contacted the trailing edge of the left hand elevator of aircraft N923ME. Aircraft N923ME received substantial damage to the rear spar of the left elevator. The left geared tab was split in a line that paralleled the rudder. Aircraft N904ME received minor damage to the right horizontal stabilizer outboard fairing and right elevator. Witness statements indicated that aircraft N904ME was positioned closer than usual behind aircraft N923ME at the completion of the push back procedure. Also, prior to the collision, aircraft N923ME had pushed back approximately 5 feet from gate 34 in order to record an on-time departure.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT N904ME WAS PUSHED BACK FROM GATE 36 AND WAS POSITIONED BEHIND AIRCRAFT N923ME, WHICH WAS PARKED AT GATE 34. AS AIRCRAFT N904ME INITIATED A LEFT TURN DURING ITS TAXI OUT, THE LEADING AND TRAILING EDGE OF THE RIGHT HAND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE LEFT HAND ELEVATOR OF AIRCRAFT N923ME. AIRCRAFT N923ME RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE REAR SPAR OF THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THE LEFT GEARED TAB WAS SPLIT IN A LINE THAT PARALLELED THE RUDDER. AIRCRAFT N904ME RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OUTBOARD FAIRING AND RIGHT ELEVATOR. WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED THAT AIRCRAFT N904ME WAS POSITIONED CLOSER THAN USUAL BEHIND AIRCRAFT N923ME AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PUSH BACK PROCEDURE. ALSO, PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, AIRCRAFT N923ME HAD PUSHED BACK APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET FROM GATE 34 IN ORDER TO RECORD AN ON-TIME DEPARTURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.