What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
B-737-823 aircraft pushback began at approximately 1923 local, at a standard quick rate. At 1924 local the aircraft hit a slight swell in the ramp surface. At this time the towbar disconnected from the nosewheel and the aircraft continued backward roll approximately 20 feet, impacting DC-9-82. Towbar was in satisfactory condition. In addition to the undesired towbar disconnect the communication cord was disconnected from the aircraft resulting in no ground to cockpit communication. The short distance from disconnect to DC-9 impact left cockpit crew with limited opportunity to intercede.
As the FAA filed it
B-737-823 AIRCRAFT PUSHBACK BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 1923 LOCAL, AT A STANDARD QUICK RATE. AT 1924 LOCAL THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SLIGHT SWELL IN THE RAMP SURFACE. AT THIS TIME THE TOWBAR DISCONNECTED FROM THE NOSEWHEEL AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED BACKWARD ROLL APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET, IMPACTING DC-9-82. TOWBAR WAS IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. IN ADDITION TO THE UNDESIRED TOWBAR DISCONNECT THE COMMUNICATION CORD WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN NO GROUND TO COCKPIT COMMUNICATION. THE SHORT DISTANCE FROM DISCONNECT TO DC-9 IMPACT LEFT COCKPIT CREW WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO INTERCEDE.
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 aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.