# NTSB CHI88FA163: Boeing 727, N254US, St Paul, MN, July 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1988, 17:37 local (22:37 UTC)
- Place: St Paul, MN
- Coordinates: 44.880031, -93.199638 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8800&lon=-93.1996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 93 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13953/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA163

## 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 - vehicle
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - notams - information insufficient, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER PUSH BACK FROM THE GATE, THE CAPTAIN RECEIVED AN UNRESTRICTED TAXI CLEARANCE & ELECTED TO TAXI TO THE NORTH SIDE OF A CONSTRUCTION AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING OF THE ACFT STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE IN A NONMOVEMENT AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE CAPT STATED THAT THE LACK OF INFORMATION IN THE FORM OF NOTAMS, LACK OF SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FROM GROUND CONTROL AND LACK OF SIGNS AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, LEAD TO HIS DECISION TO TAXI ALONG THAT ROUTE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N254US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19973
- Airframe hours: 43637
- Engines: P&W JT8D 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 17, 1987, 1,178 hours before
- Departed: MSP
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MSP, Minneapolis - St Paul, runway 29L, 10,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## 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: 13,580 total, 10,630 in this make and model, 181 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Observed at: MSP

## 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 19880711039479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880711039479A), Jul 11, 1988: Boeing 727251, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. Left wing struck fuel truck during taxi to runway. NOTAM for construction detour not clear. Tower failed warning.

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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