# NTSB CEN11IA198: Boeing 737-823, N945AN, Southlake, TX, February 21, 2011

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2011, 19:24 local (Feb 21, 2011, 01:24 UTC)
- Place: Southlake, TX
- Coordinates: 32.896945, -97.038055 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8969&lon=-97.0381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Pushback/towing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 145 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Certificate Management Office (SW21)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11IA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78397/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78397
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11IA198

## Probable cause

The tractor driver’s failure to confirm that the tow bar head/handle was secured correctly to the airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Pushback/towing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)
- [Pushback/towing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 737-823, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=13844CB), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The Boeing 737-823 was being pushed back from its gate when the tow bar separated from the nose gear. The airplane rolled backwards and the right wing tip struck the nose of a parked DC-9. The tractor driver said the tow bar was already attached to the aircraft when he arrived. He said that he attached the other end of the tow bar to the tractor. The driver said that prior to push back, he checked the tow bar and ascertained that the bypass pin was in place and the tow bar wheels were fully retracted. Examination of the tow bar revealed no mechanical failures or abnormalities.

## Factual narrative

On February 20, 2011, at 1924 central standard time, a Boeing 737-823, N945AN, that was being pushed back from its gate at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Southlake, Texas, struck a parked McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82), N70504. The Boeing 737-823 sustained minor damaged, but the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 was substantially damaged. Both airplanes were registered to American Airlines, Inc. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The Boeing 737 was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight. The captain, first officer, 4 cabin attendants, and 139 passengers on board the airplane were not injured. There were no occupants aboard the DC-9. The Boeing was destined for Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Palm Beach, Florida. The Boeing 737-823 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight, operating as American Airlines flight 1808. According to American Airlines, the 737 was being pushed straight back from gate A26 when the tow bar separated from the nose gear. The airplane rolled backwards, severing the communications cord to the flight deck. The captain and first officer, who were in the process of starting the engines, were unaware that the airplane was rolling freely. The 737's right wing tip struck the nose of the DC-9 that was parked at pad N. All occupants were deplaned and transported to the terminal. The tractor driver told investigators that the tow bar was already attached to the aircraft when he arrived. He attached the other end of the tow bar to the tractor. The driver said that he checked the tow bar and ascertained that the bypass pin was in place and the tow bar wheels were fully retracted. Examination of the tow bar by AALA maintenance personnel revealed no mechanical failures or abnormalities.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N945AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N945AN), registered now, S/N 30085, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-823
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-823](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-823) (registry code 13844CB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30085
- Engines: CFM International CFM56-7B27 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: DFW, Southlake, TX
- Destination: PBI, Palm Beach, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dallas-Fort Worth Int'l.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review June 12, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 8,984 total, 3,593 in this make and model, 3,593 as pilot in command, 171 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 15,984 total, 362 in this make and model, 13,945 as pilot in command, 169 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 170° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

## 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 20110220007932I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110220007932I), Feb 20, 2011: Boeing 737-823, Dfw Internation, TX, Minor damage. B-737-823 aircraft pushback began at approximately 1923 local, at a standard quick rate. At 1924 local the aircraft hit a slight swell in the ramp surface. At…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78397. 2.6 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operators Aircraft Accident Report, N945AN (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operators%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20N945AN-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report, N70504 (item 2, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20N70504-Master.PDF
- American Airlines, Aircraft Damage Investigation Report (item 3, .PDF, 956 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=American%20Airlines,%20Aircraft%20Damage%20Investigation%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Right wing damage to N945AN, Boeing 737-823 (item 5, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20wing%20damage%20to%20N945AN,%20Boeing%20737-823-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Cockpit damage to N70504, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (item 6, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Cockpit%20damage%20to%20N70504,%20McDonnell%20Douglas%20DC-9-82-Master.PDF

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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