- Date
- December 8, 2011, 19:15 local (Dec 9, 2011, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Atlanta, GA
- Injuries
- 279 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Defining events
- Standing: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 82515
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 failure of the captain of N303DQ to maintain a safe clearance from N583NW that was stopped on the 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.
N583NW · Boeing 757-351
N303DQ · Boeing 737-732
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.
N583NW · Boeing 757-351
N303DQ · Boeing 737-732
Analysis
On December 8, 2011, Delta Airlines flight 2036, a Boeing 737-700, N303DQ, collided with Delta Airlines flight 787, a Boeing 757-300, N583NW, while N303DQ was taxiing to the gate after landing at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of the accident, N583NW was stopped on the taxiway. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. N583NW received substantial damage to its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator and N303DQ sustained minor damage to its left winglet. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. After landing on runway 9R, N303DQ exited onto taxiway N10 and was directed by the local controller to "make a right turn on taxiway N, snug up on a 757, your gate is occupied." The B757, N583NW, was stopped on taxiway N east of taxiway J, facing east, awaiting clearance to taxi to their gate. N303DQ stopped on taxiway N, west of taxiway J. Approximately 15 minutes later, the local controller directed N303DQ to make a right turn on taxiway J and hold short of runway 9R to taxi the flight to ramp 1 via taxiway R. The captain of N303DQ indicated that he looked out his left window and it appeared there was sufficient clearance with the N583NW, however, the flight crew felt the airplane shudder as the turn was completed and stopped the airplane ahead. Immediately, N583DQ reported to the local controller that they thought that their airplane had been hit from behind. The captain of N303DQ confirmed to the local controller that their left winglet was damaged. Airport rescue crews were dispatched and inspected both aircraft and then both airplanes taxied to their gates without further incident. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on N583NW were substantially damaged.
Factual narrative
On December 8, 2011, Delta Airlines flight 2036, a Boeing 737-700, N303DQ, collided with Delta Airlines flight 787, a Boeing 757-300, N583NW, while N303DQ was taxiing to the gate after landing at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of the accident, N583NW was stopped on the taxiway. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. N583NW received substantial damage to its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator and N303DQ sustained minor damage to its left winglet. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. After landing on runway 9R, N303DQ exited onto taxiway N10 and was directed by the local controller to "make a right turn on taxiway N, snug up on a 757, your gate is occupied." The B757, N583NW, was stopped on taxiway N east of taxiway J, facing east, awaiting clearance to taxi to their gate. N303DQ stopped on taxiway N, west of taxiway J. Approximately 15 minutes later, the local controller directed N303DQ to make a right turn on taxiway J and hold short of runway 9R to taxi the flight to ramp 1 via taxiway R. The captain of N303DQ indicated that he looked out his left window and it appeared there was sufficient clearance with the N583NW, however, the flight crew felt the airplane shudder as the turn was completed and stopped the airplane ahead. Immediately, N583DQ reported to the local controller that they thought that their airplane had been hit from behind. The captain of N303DQ confirmed to the local controller that their left winglet was damaged. Airport rescue crews were dispatched and inspected both aircraft and then both airplanes taxied to their gates without further incident. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator on N583NW were substantially damaged.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N583NW
- Reported as
- Boeing 757-351
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32983
- Engines
- P&W PW2040, 40,900 lbs thrust, turbo jetP&W PW2040, 40,900 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- MSP · Minneapolis, MN
- Destination
- ATL · Atlanta, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ATL · Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta I
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
- N303DQ
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-732
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 29688
- Engines
- CFM Intl CFM56, 25,900 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56, 25,900 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- EYW · Key West, FL
- Destination
- ATL · Atlanta, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ATL · Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta I
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.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N303DQ
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- April 15, 2011
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 11,781 total · 7,309 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N303DQ
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Last flight review
- June 24, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,456 total · 2,118 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 MB in all.