# NTSB ATL88IA226: Douglas DC-9-51, N421EA, Atlanta, GA, August 5, 1988 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 1988, 17:55 local (21:55 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: No injuries - Injuries: 199 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 7640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7640/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA226 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - aircraft parked/standing - clearance - misjudged, ground personnel (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - aircraft parked/standing - clearance - misjudged, ground personnel (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE EASTERN DC-9 COLLIDED WITH THE DELTA DC-9 DURING TAXI. GROUND PERSONNEL HAD CLEARED THE EASTERN FLIGHT FORWARD AFTER THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A POWERBACK WHICH LEFT THE AIRPLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE DELTA FLIGHT. DUE TO THE LONG FUSELAGE AND THE RELATIVE CLOSENESS, WHEN EASTERN STARTED TO TAXI FORWARD, THE VERTICAL FIN CONTACTED DELTA'S HORIZONTAL STABILATOR. THE WING WALKER WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF THE GROUND GUIDE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE COLLISION; NOR HAD THE GROUND GUIDE INSURED ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BEFORE DIRECTING EASTERN TO TAXI. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE EASTERN DC-9 COLLIDED WITH THE DELTA DC-9 DURING TAXI. THE GROUND PERSONNEL HAD CLEARED THE EASTERN FLIGHT FORWARD AFTER THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A POWERBACK WHICH LEFT THE AIRPLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE DELTA FLIGHT. DUE TO THE LONG FUSELAGE AND THE RELATIVE CLOSENESS, WHEN EASTERN STARTED TO TAXI FORWARD, THE VERTICAL FIN CONTACTED DELTA'S HORIZONTAL STABILATOR. THE WING WALKER WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF THE GROUND GUIDE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE COLLISION; NOR HAD THE GROUND GUIDE INSURED ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BEFORE DIRECTING EASTERN TO TAXI. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N421EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N421EA-1992-06-25), registration cancelled 1992-06-25, S/N 47679 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-51 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-51) (registry code 3022051) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47689 - Engines: P&W JT8-D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Eastern Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATL, Hartsfield ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N1282L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-51 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 47378 - Engines: P&W JT8 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: ATL, Hartsfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N421EA; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,403 total, 7,560 in this make and model, 2,421 as pilot in command - Pilot, aircraft N1282L; age 46; 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: 9,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19880805037531I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880805037531I), Aug 5, 1988: Doug DC951, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. On turning after power back,a wing hit the tail of holding delta,N1282L. Both sustained minor damage. - [Incident 19880805037532I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880805037532I), Aug 5, 1988: Doug DC932, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Struck by a power-back of eal 289, a DC951, while preparing to depart the gate. Minor damage to tail. ## Other investigations on N421EA (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA83IA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83IA016), Feb 7, 1983: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 (N421EA), Greer, SC, incident, minor damage 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.