# NTSB ATL02LA029: Boeing 727-200, N262FE, Greenville, SC, January 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 2002, 21:20 local (Jan 3, 2002, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Greenville, SC - Coordinates: 34.885833, -82.217498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8858&lon=-82.2175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Express - NTSB case key (mKey): 53979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53979/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53979 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA029 ## Probable cause The tug driver's failure to maintain control of the airplane during pushback resulting in the tug colliding with the airplane. A factor was ice on the ramp. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - pushback/tow - object - vehicle (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the Captain, during the first phase of pushback, everything appeared normal. The first and second officers were completing the engine start check and the airplane was being pushed back from the gate when the airplane came to a stop. The tug operator stated that during pushback, the airplane nose wheel hit a patch of ice. As he applies brakes to stop the tug, the airplane began to slide. Unable to stop the movement, the tug driver jumped from the tug to avoid getting caught between the tug and airplane. The tug came to rest lodged under the fuselage of the airplane creating a 10-inch by 14-inch hole in the underside of the fuselage breaking two stringers. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 2002, at 2120 eastern standard time, a Boeing 727-200, N262FE, owned and operated by Federal Express, collided with an airport tug during pushback for takeoff at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport in Greenville, South Carolina. The domestic cargo flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121 with an IFR flight plan. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airline transport pilot and first and second officers were not injured nor was the tug driver, however the airplane received substantial damage. According to the Captain, during the first phase of pushback, everything appeared normal. The first and second officers were completing the engine start check and the airplane was being pushed back from the gate when the airplane came to a stop. The tug operator stated that during pushback, the airplane nose wheel hit a patch of ice. As he applied brakes to stop the tug, the airplane began to slide. Unable to stop the movement, the tug driver jumped from the tug to avoid getting caught between the tug and airplane. The tug came to rest lodged under the fuselage of the airplane creating a 10-inch by 14-inch hole in the underside of the fuselage. The examination of the airframe revealed that two stringers on the bottom side were damaged. . Witnesses stated that after deicing the airplane, the tug operator began to pushback the airplane. The parking area was clear of ice but the ramp was slick. The tug operator parked the airplane on the taxi line at a 90-degree angle from the tug and engaged the brakes. According to the operator, "due to the ice on the ramp, the momentum of the tug caused the tug to slide into the airplane." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N262FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N262FE-2013-12-18), registration cancelled 2013-12-18, S/N 21624, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 727-200 - Registry model: [Boeing 727-233](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-233) (registry code 138408A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21624 - Airframe hours: 44864 - Engines: P&W JT8D-15QM 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W JT8D-15QM 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W JT8D-15QM 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Fedex Express Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 21, 2001, 25 hours before - Departed: GSP, Greenville, SC - Destination: MEM, Memphis, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GSP, Greer-Greenville Spartanburg ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 8, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,773 total, 1,760 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 32; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 31, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,691 total, 155 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days - Flight engineer; injuries: none; flight engineer; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: GSP ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020102017029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020102017029A), Jan 2, 2002: Boeing 727233, Greer, SC, Substantial damage. (.4) On January 2, 2002, at 2120 eastern standard time, a Boeing 727-200, N262FE, owned and operated by federal express, collided with an airport tug during… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53979. 395 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Tug and Flight Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Tug%20and%20Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Master.PDF 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.