# NTSB BFO85IA074: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N1842U, Washington, DC, September 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1985, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.9475° N, 77.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WASHINGTON DULLES INTL (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9475&lon=-77.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 175 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85IA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85IA074

## 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
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)
  - object - vehicle
  - clearance - not maintained (cause)
  - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)

## Analysis

NORTHWEST FLIGHT 78 (NW78), A B-757, WAS PARKED AT GATE 17 FACING EAST WITH MOBILE PASSENGER LOUNGE (MPL) DOCKED AT L1 DOOR. UNITED 52, A DC-10, TAXIED IN EASTERLY DIRECTION BY LEFT SIDE OF NW78, THEN TURNED RIGHT TO SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING TO FOLLOW LEAD-IN LINE TO GATE 15. DC-10 WAS ON LEAD-IN HEADING WITH NOSEWHEEL ABOUT 3' TO 6' RIGHT OF LINE & FOLLOWING SIGNALS FROM GUIDEMAN, WHEN RIGHT WINGTIP STRUCK AFT END OF MPL. DRIVER OF MPL WAS STANDING ON GANGWAY & FELL BACKWARD INTO 757 & RECEIVED MINOR INJURY. BOTH PLANES RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE; MPL WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. UNITED HAD RECENTLY BEGUN TO USE GATE 15 FOR DC-10'S. AT THAT TIME, NW WAS USING DC-10 ON FLT 78, WHICH DEPLANED THRU L2 DOOR, BUT A WEEK BEFORE INCIDENT, DC-10 WAS REPLACED WITH 757 THAT NORMALLY DEPLANED THRU L1 DOOR.  NW78'S ARRIVAL WAS LATE THAT DAY, SO DEPLANING WAS STILL IN PROGRESS WHEN FLIGHT 52 ARRIVED. MEASUREMENTS CONFIRMED INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE EXISTED FOR DC-10 AT GATE 15, WHEN MPL WAS DOCKED WITH 757 AT GATE 17.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1842U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46635
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 41500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: Bank Of New York
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850908051949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850908051949I), Sep 8, 1985: Doug DC1010, Washington, DC, Minor damage. Wingtip struck mobile lounge during taxi on yellow marker. Lounge was pushed into parked B757.

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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