- Date
- January 31, 1990, 23:50 local (Feb 1, 1990, 04:50 UTC)
- Place
- Indianapolis, IN
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 6 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N519FTBoeing 727
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 10, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 14523
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The tug operator's failure to maintain control of the tug, possibly due to having inadvertently placed or caught his built-up, steel-toe boot under the brake pedal.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Boeing 727 was chocked awaiting a tug. A mechanic/ramp employee brought a tug and tow bar to the aircraft. After approaching the aircraft, he stopped the tug, disconnected the tow bar from the tug and connected it to the nose gear of the aircraft. He re-boarded the tug to bring it closer to the tow bar for attachment. Rather than stopping, the tug continued forward and contacted the bar, which slid off the face of the tug. The tug continued forward and contact was made with the underside of the aircraft's nose, crushing the employee between the tug and the airplane. The tug driver was wearing a built-up shoe on his right foot. Tests subsequent to the accident revealed that with the shoe placed under the brake pedal of the tug, braking action of the tug was not sufficient to stop the vehicle. Scuff marks and signs of scraping were noted on the toe of the boot, though the source of the scrape/scuff marks was not verified.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N519FT
- Reported as
- Boeing 727
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19387
- Engine
- P&W JT8D, 15,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Federal Express
- Registered owner
- Aviation Sales Company Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- DTW · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- IND
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- IND · Indianapolis Intl
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,100 total · 1,400 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IND