# NTSB ATL87FA250: British Aerospace 3101, N407MX, Atlanta, GA, September 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1987, 20:25 local (Sep 8, 1987, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.6367° N, 84.4279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HARTSFIELD/JACKSON ATLANTA INTL (ATL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6367&lon=-84.4279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 19 uninjured; on the ground: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7318
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7318/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA250

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle
  - visual lookout - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK BY AN EASTBOUND, AIRLINE EMPLOYEE BUS WHILE TAXIING SOUTH ON THE RAMP TO THE ASSIGNED GATE. THE BUS IMPACTED THE ACFT RT WING TIP. A PAX IN THE BUS REPORTED THAT SHE WARNED THE BUS DRIVER TO WATCH OUT FOR THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, BUT THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO LOOK STRAIGHT AND MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER THE PAX WARNED THE DRIVER A SECOND TIME, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE BUS TO A STOP AND AVOID THE COLLISION. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE NAVIGATION AND ROTATING BEACON WERE ON THE ENTIRE TIME. ACCORDING TO ARPT GROUND TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS, AIRCRAFT HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OVER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AT ALL TIMES,

## Aircraft

- Registration: N407MX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE 3101
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 636
- Airframe hours: 6971
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Metro Express
- Registered owner: Metro Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, Hartsfield Atl. Int'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor, 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: 4,960 total, 1,160 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL

## 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 19870907050499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870907050499A), Sep 7, 1987: Bag JETSTM3101, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit by a bus while taxiing to gate. Bus driver warned by passenger of the aircraft before the accident.

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.

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