# NTSB ANC89IA032: Boeing 727-222, N7298U, Anchorage, AK, January 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1989, 12:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159431, -149.990371 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 441 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89IA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5126/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89IA032

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE 727 ON THE RAMP AND THE FAILURE OF THE 747 CREW TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE 727 ON THE RAMP AND THE FAILURE OF THE 747 CREW TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION.

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 727 WAS PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE, AND WAS PARKED ON THE NONMOVEMENT AREA OF THE RAMP. A KOREAN AIRLINES BOEING 747 WAS TAXIING WEST ON THE TAXIWAY, WHEN THE B-727'S RIGHT WINGTIP STRUCK THE LOWER RUDDER ON THE B-727. THE B-747 WAS 3 FEET OFF THE CENTER LINE TAXIWAY; THE B-727 WAS PUSHED BACK AWAY FROM THE GATE AND WAS PARKED. THE TAIL SECTION OF THE B-727 WAS INSIDE THE TAXI ZONE WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 727 WAS PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE, AND WAS PARKED ON THE NONMOVEMENT AREA OF THE RAMP. A KOREAN AIRLINES BOEING 747 WAS TAXIING WEST ON THE TAXIWAY, WHEN THE B-747'S RIGHT WINGTIP STRUCK THE LOWER RUDDER ON THE B-737. THE B-747 WAS 3 FEET OFF THE CENTER LINE TAXIWAY; THE B-727 WAS PUSHED BACK AWAY FROM THE GATE AND WAS PARKED. THE TAIL SECTION OF THE B-727 WAS INSIDE THE TAXI ZONE WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - aircraft handling - improper, ground personnel (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - improper, ground personnel (cause)

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N7298U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-222
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21833
- Airframe hours: 30401
- Engines: P&W JT-8D-15 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 26, 1988, 105 hours before
- Destination: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ANC, Anchorage

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N7464 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20771
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A 46950 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Korean Airlines
- Registered owner: Korean Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Airport: ANC, Anchorage

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N7298U; age 50; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17,200 total
- Pilot, aircraft N7464; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19890109003502I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890109003502I), Jan 9, 1989: Boeing 727200, Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. After pushback, bottom part of rudder was severed by inbound 747, HL7464, taxiing to gate.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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