# NTSB ANC96LA026: Boeing 757-232, N622DL, Fairbanks, AK, February 20, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 1996, 00:02 local (04:02 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.810485, -147.720779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8105&lon=-147.7208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 91 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA026 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) inadequate visual lookout by the flightcrew of the Delta Boeing 757, N622DL, and their failure to follow procedures and directives by not closely following the ramp marshals' signals. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) inadequate visual lookout by the flightcrew of the Delta Boeing 757, N622DL, and their failure to follow procedures and directives by not closely following the ramp marshals' signals. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - issued, ground personnel - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not complied with, flightcrew - procedures/directives - not followed, flightcrew (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - issued, ground personnel - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not complied with, pilot of other aircraft - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The Delta Boeing 757, N622DL, was departing the ramp area in a right turn to begin the taxi for takeoff. The United Boeing 757, N524UA, was parked at an adjoining gate pending an imminent departure. As the Delta 757 came closer to the parked United 757, ground marshals for the Delta airplane believed that the left wing of the Delta airplane was likely to strike the left wing of the United airplane. The marshals gave the emergency 'STOP' signal, but the Delta airplane continued moving and struck the wing of the United airplane. The Delta airplane kept moving and continued towards the active runway. The Delta crew was advised via radio to return to the ramp area, where they were advised of the collision. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The Delta Boeing 757, N622DL, was departing the ramp area in a right turn to begin the taxi for takeoff. The United Boeing 757, N524UA, was parked at an adjoining gate pending an imminent departure. As the Delta 757 came closer to the parked United 757, ground marshals for the Delta airplane believed that the left wing of the Delta airplane was likely to strike the left wing of the United airplane. The marshals gave the emergency 'STOP' signal, but the Delta airplane continued moving and struck the wing of the United airplane. The Delta airplane kept moving and continued towards the active runway. The Delta crew was advised via radio to return to the ramp area, where they were advised of the collision. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See narrative for ANC96LA026A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On February 20, 1996, about 0002 Alaska standard time, a Delta Airlines Boeing 757-232 airplane, N622DL, operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as Flight 367, collided with a United Airlines Boeing 757-222 airplane, N524UA, on the ramp at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The United Airlines airplane was also operating under 14 CFR Part 121, as Flight 404. Both flights were en route to Anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and both flights had filed IFR flight plans. There was no emergency evacuation from either airplane, and there were no reported injuries among the 39 passengers and 7 crew members aboard the Delta Flight, or the 38 passengers and 7 crew members aboard the United airplane. According to Delta Airlines personnel and other witnesses, the Delta airplane was leaving Gate 8, and had initiated a turn to its right to taxi to the departure runway. During the course of the turn, the left wingtip of the Delta 757 collided with the left wingtip of the United 757, which was loaded with passengers, but still parked at an adjoining gate, Gate 7. The Delta 757 sustained minor damage to the left wingtip navigation light and housing; the United 757 received substantial damage to the left outboard aileron. Written statements (attached) from the two Delta Airlines ramp marshals, disclosed essentially the same information. Both ramp marshals were "unplugged" from the airplane, i.e., they were not communicating to the flight crew through any electronic means. They observed the airplane moving away from the ramp in what appeared to be a wide right turn. The marshal nearest the left wing signalled the emergency "STOP" signal with his flashlight wands when it became clear to him that the left wing was coming too close to the United airplane's wing tip. The wing marshal stated that he thinks the accident could have been prevented if the crew had observed his signals and stopped in a timely manner. The marshal closest to the nose of the Delta airplane also gave an emergency "STOP" signal with his wands, mimicking the signal he saw the wing marshal give. The forward marshal is unsure if the flight crew would have been in a position to see his stop signal because of his position (near mid-galley) in relation to the flight deck. The forward marshal noted in his statement that he never gave the crew the release from ramp salute, signalling that the airplane was clear of all obstacles. After the collision, the flight crew continued towards the active runway. The Captain wrote in his statement that he received a signal from the dispatching agent (ramp marshal) signalling him forward to the taxiway. The Captain later received information that the airplane needed to return to the gate area. Once he returned to the gate, he was informed of the collision. The United Airlines airplane was removed from service. Temporary repairs were made to the debonded composite aileron, and a ferry permit was issued by the FAA which allowed the airplane to be flown to United's repair facility in San Francisco, California, where a new aileron was installed. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N622DL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOEING 757-232 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22912 - Airframe hours: 30708 - Engines: P&W 2037 38200 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 14, 1996, 60 hours before - Departed: FAI - Destination: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N524UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N524UA-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N 24977, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 757-222 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-222) (registry code 1384956) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2040](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2040) (registry code 52121, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5224 - Airframe hours: 14407 - Engines: P&W 2037M 38200 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: United Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 11, 1995, 3,562 hours before - Destination: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N622DL; age 59; 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: 14,000 total, 2,484 in this make and model, 92 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N524UA; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,995 total, 1,434 in this make and model, 208 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 208 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: -6 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAI ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960220009091A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960220009091A), Feb 20, 1996: Boeing 757232, Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage. Turning out from gate left wing hit parked plane that was at gate loading passengers. Marshal signal stop unseen. - [Accident 19960220009092A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960220009092A), Feb 20, 1996: Boeing 757222, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. During loading at gate was struck by wing tip of plane that was turning from gate and failed to see stop signal. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.