# NTSB BFO92IA046: Boeing 747-123, N681UP, Louisville, KY, March 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1992, 00:50 local (05:50 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Coordinates: 38.179054, -85.719467 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1791&lon=-85.7195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11742
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92IA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11742/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92IA046

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A BLAST FENCE.  CONTRIBUTING WAS INADEQUATE INSTRUCTION FROM GROUND PERSONNEL.

## 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
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - monitoring - inadequate, ground personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE SOUTH RAMP, TAXIING FROM LANDING, WHEN THE RIGHT WINGTIP STRUCK A BLAST FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GROUND MARSHALLERS AT THE TIME. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS TAXIING AT ABOUT 4 KNOTS, WHEN THE MARSHALLER SIGNALED HIM TO TURN LEFT. THE PILOT MADE A HARD LEFT TURN, AND THREE QUARTERS INTO THE TURN, HE FELT THE NOSEWHEEL JITTER. HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW IN FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE AND NOTICED THE MARSHALL SIGNALLING HIM TO STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N681UP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N681UP-2011-12-08), registration cancelled 2011-12-08, S/N 19661, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-123
- Registry model: [Boeing 747-121](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-121) (registry code 1384871) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt9d-3a) (registry code 52050, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19661
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Parcel Service
- Registered owner: United Parcel Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Standiford Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LOU, 999 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).

- [Incident 19920319014969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920319014969I), Mar 19, 1992: Boeing 747121, Louisville, KY, Minor damage. Wing tip struck the blast fence while making a turn. Under the direction of a marshaller.

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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