DCA11CA084

NTSB accident investigation · Bombardier CL600 2D24 · Boston, MA · July 14, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 14, 2011, 19:33 local (23:33 UTC)
Place
Boston, MA
Injuries
291 uninjured
Phase of flight
Standing
Aircraft
N132EVBombardier CL600 2D24N185DNBoeing 767 332
Defining events
Standing: Ground collisionTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 8, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
81120

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 B767 Captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the tail of the CRJ900 that was stopped on a taxiway.

the B767 flight crew's failure to maintain a safe clearance with the CRJ900 that was stopped on a taxiway.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N132EV · Bombardier CL600 2D24

Perception/orientation/illusion: perceptionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftBombardier CL-600-2D24: 1 caseAll aircraft: 61 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftBombardier CL-600-2D24: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

N185DN · Boeing 767 332

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewBoeing 767-332: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N132EV · Bombardier CL600 2D24

N185DN · Boeing 767 332

Analysis

On July 14, 2011, about 1933 eastern daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 266, a Boeing 767-300ER, N185DN, was taxiing for departure when its left winglet struck the horizontal stabilizer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 4904, a Bombardier CL-600-2D24 (CRJ900), N132EV, which was on taxiway M holding for departure on runway 09 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage and the 767 sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to any of the passengers and crew aboard either airplane. Flight 4904, the CRJ900, was stopped behind two other airplanes on the south side of taxiway M awaiting takeoff clearance for runway 9. Flight 266, the B767, was taxiing for departure on runway 4R and was instructed by the ground controller to hold short of runway 4L on taxiway B. After holding short of runway 4L for a few minutes, the ground controller instructed them to "taxi to runway 4R, good rate around the corner." The captain recalled the ground controller had said the landing traffic was four miles out on final approach. The flight crew stated that they looked for the landing traffic and saw a "heavy" airplane approaching the airport with its landing gear extended were not sure if the landing traffic was going to runway 4L, runway 4R or runway 9. The captain indicated he expedited the taxi to cross the runway 4L approach path and estimated a taxi speed of more than 20 knots when they crossed the 4L approach path. After the B767 crossed the runway 4L approach path, ATC said "nice job, monitor tower on 132.22, should get you right outta here at this next arrival." The B767 first officer (FO) stated he then was changing to the tower frequency when he looked up and saw that they were closing the distance to the CRJ900 faster than he had expected and said "watch this guy". The captain stated that after turning on to taxiway B, he noticed the CRJ900 that was stopped on taxiway M and thought that it looked clear of taxiway B. The captain stated that it looked like they would be clear of the CRJ900 but the distance was going to be close so he steered the B767 slightly to the right (about three feet) of the taxiway centerline and applied light braking when the collision occurred. According to the accident captain and a Delta check airman, the B767 wingtips are not visible from the cockpit unless the windows are opened. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage to the horizontal tail and vertical tail and fluid was lost in all three hydraulic systems.

On July 14, 2011, about 1933 eastern daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 266, a Boeing 767-300ER, N185DN, was taxiing for departure when its left winglet struck the horizontal stabilizer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 4904, a Bombardier CL-600-2D24 (CRJ900), N132EV, which was on taxiway M holding for departure on runway 09 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage and the 767 sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to any of the passengers and crew aboard either airplane. Flight 4904, the CRJ900, was stopped behind two other airplanes on the south side of taxiway M awaiting takeoff clearance for runway 9. Flight 266, the B767, was taxiing for departure on runway 4R and was instructed by the ground controller to hold short of runway 4L on taxiway B. After holding short of runway 4L for a few minutes, the ground controller instructed them to "taxi to runway 4R, good rate around the corner." The captain recalled the ground controller had said the landing traffic was four miles out on final approach. The flight crew stated that they looked for the landing traffic and saw a "heavy" airplane approaching the airport with its landing gear extended were not sure if the landing traffic was going to runway 4L, runway 4R or runway 9. The captain indicated he expedited the taxi to cross the runway 4L approach path and estimated a taxi speed of more than 20 knots when they crossed the 4L approach path. After the B767 crossed the runway 4L approach path, ATC said "nice job, monitor tower on 132.22, should get you right outta here at this next arrival." The B767 first officer (FO) stated he then was changing to the tower frequency when he looked up and saw that they were closing the distance to the CRJ900 faster than he had expected and said "watch this guy". The captain stated that after turning on to taxiway B, he noticed the CRJ900 that was stopped on taxiway M and thought that it looked clear of taxiway B. The captain stated that it looked like they would be clear of the CRJ900 but the distance was going to be close so he steered the B767 slightly to the right (about three feet) of the taxiway centerline and applied light braking when the collision occurred. According to the accident captain and a Delta check airman, the B767 wingtips are not visible from the cockpit unless the windows are opened. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage to the horizontal tail and vertical tail and fluid was lost in all three hydraulic systems.

Factual narrative

On July 14, 2011, about 1933 eastern daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 266, a Boeing 767-300ER, N185DN, was taxiing for departure when its left winglet struck the horizontal stabilizer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 4904, a Bombardier CL-600-2D24 (CRJ900), N132EV, which was on taxiway M holding for departure on runway 09 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage and the 767 sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to any of the passengers and crew aboard either airplane. Flight 4904, the CRJ900, was stopped behind two other airplanes on the south side of taxiway M awaiting takeoff clearance for runway 9. Flight 266, the B767, was taxiing for departure on runway 4R and was instructed by the ground controller to hold short of runway 4L on taxiway B. After holding short of runway 4L for a few minutes, the ground controller instructed them to "taxi to runway 4R, good rate around the corner." The captain recalled the ground controller had said the landing traffic was four miles out on final approach. The flight crew stated that they looked for the landing traffic and saw a "heavy" airplane approaching the airport with its landing gear extended were not sure if the landing traffic was going to runway 4L, runway 4R or runway 9. The captain indicated he expedited the taxi to cross the runway 4L approach path and estimated a taxi speed of more than 20 knots when they crossed the 4L approach path. After the B767 crossed the runway 4L approach path, ATC said "nice job, monitor tower on 132.22, should get you right outta here at this next arrival." The B767 first officer (FO) stated he then was changing to the tower frequency when he looked up and saw that they were closing the distance to the CRJ900 faster than he had expected and said "watch this guy". The captain stated that after turning on to taxiway B, he noticed the CRJ900 that was stopped on taxiway M and thought that it looked clear of taxiway B. The captain stated that it looked like they would be clear of the CRJ900 but the distance was going to be close so he steered the B767 slightly to the right (about three feet) of the taxiway centerline and applied light braking when the collision occurred. According to the accident captain and a Delta check airman, the B767 wingtips are not visible from the cockpit unless the windows are opened. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage to the horizontal tail and vertical tail and fluid was lost in all three hydraulic systems.

On July 14, 2011, about 1933 eastern daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 266, a Boeing 767-300ER, N185DN, was taxiing for departure when its left winglet struck the horizontal stabilizer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 4904, a Bombardier CL-600-2D24 (CRJ900), N132EV, which was on taxiway M holding for departure on runway 09 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage and the 767 sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to any of the passengers and crew aboard either airplane. Flight 4904, the CRJ900, was stopped behind two other airplanes on the south side of taxiway M awaiting takeoff clearance for runway 9. Flight 266, the B767, was taxiing for departure on runway 4R and was instructed by the ground controller to hold short of runway 4L on taxiway B. After holding short of runway 4L for a few minutes, the ground controller instructed them to "taxi to runway 4R, good rate around the corner." The captain recalled the ground controller had said the landing traffic was four miles out on final approach. The flight crew stated that they looked for the landing traffic and saw a "heavy" airplane approaching the airport with its landing gear extended were not sure if the landing traffic was going to runway 4L, runway 4R or runway 9. The captain indicated he expedited the taxi to cross the runway 4L approach path and estimated a taxi speed of more than 20 knots when they crossed the 4L approach path. After the B767 crossed the runway 4L approach path, ATC said "nice job, monitor tower on 132.22, should get you right outta here at this next arrival." The B767 first officer (FO) stated he then was changing to the tower frequency when he looked up and saw that they were closing the distance to the CRJ900 faster than he had expected and said "watch this guy". The captain stated that after turning on to taxiway B, he noticed the CRJ900 that was stopped on taxiway M and thought that it looked clear of taxiway B. The captain stated that it looked like they would be clear of the CRJ900 but the distance was going to be close so he steered the B767 slightly to the right (about three feet) of the taxiway centerline and applied light braking when the collision occurred. According to the accident captain and a Delta check airman, the B767 wingtips are not visible from the cockpit unless the windows are opened. The CRJ900 sustained substantial damage to the horizontal tail and vertical tail and fluid was lost in all three hydraulic systems.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N132EV
Reported as
Bombardier CL600 2D24 (900)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15219
Airframe hours
6,150
Engines
GE CF 34-8C5, 14,510 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF 34-8C5, 14,510 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Inc, doing business as ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES -Delta Connection
Registered owner
Delta Airlines, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · May 9, 2011
Departed
BOS · Boston, MA
Destination
RDU · Raliegh-Durham, NC
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
BOS · General Edward Lawrence Logan
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N185DN
Reported as
Boeing 767 332 (332)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
27961
Built
1995
Airframe hours
76,810
Engines
P&W PW4000 SER, 62,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanP&W PW4000 SER, 62,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Delta Air Lines
Registered owner
Delta Air Lines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · June 21, 2011
Departed
BOS · Boston, MA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
BOS · General Edward Lawrence Logan

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
KBOS

Docket · 13

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.