# NTSB ATL96LA028: Boeing 737-232, N306DL, Atlanta, GA, December 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1995, 10:17 local (15:17 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: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 58 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA028

## Probable cause

Failure of the tug driver, who was towing the Lockheed L-1011, to ensure that clearance was maintained from the Boeing 737, which was standing.

## 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) operating
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

As a tug driver was repositioning a Lockheed L-1011 from a maintenance facility to the passenger terminal, the right wing of the L-1011 collided with the right horizontal stabilizer of a standing Boeing 737-232. The tug driver stated he thought that he had ample clearance from the standing aircraft, when the collision occurred.

## Factual narrative

On December 29, 1995, at 1017 eastern standard time, a standing Boeing 737-232, N306DL, was struck by a towed Lockheed L-1011, N728DA, at taxiway Hotel, at the Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. N306DL, flight 1862, a scheduled, domestic, passenger, flight, operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121, with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two flight crewmembers, three flight attendants, one extra flight crewmember, and the 52 passengers were not injured. Flight 1862 was enroute to St. Louis, Missouri, when the ground collision occurred.

According to Delta Air Lines officials, the L-1011 was being repositioned from the north maintenance area to the passenger terminal area. The L-1011 tug operator and cockpit observer were in direct radio contact with Atlanta Ground Control, and were cleared to pass behind the standing Boeing 737-232. The tug driver stated that he thought they were clear of the standing airplane. As he attempted to pass the Boeing 737-232, the L-1011's right wing tip collided with the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator assemblies of the Boeing 737-232.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N306DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N306DL-2009-10-01), registration cancelled 2009-10-01, S/N 23078, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 737-232
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-232) (registry code 1384475) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23078
- Airframe hours: 31989
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 22, 1995, 57 hours before
- Departed: ATL
- Destination: STL, ST LOUIS, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, Hartsfield International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,500 total, 8,400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 1 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).

- [Accident 19951229047189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951229047189A), Dec 29, 1995: Boeing 737232, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. While standing engines running right stabilizer was struck by a plane that was being towed to a gate.

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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