DCA12CA122

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A330 · Dulles, VA · August 10, 2012

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 10, 2012, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
Place
Dulles, VA
Injuries
272 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
D-AIKEAirbus A330N341NGBombardier DHC-8-402
Defining events
Taxi: Unknown or undeterminedStanding-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 8, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Case key
84625

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 A330 flightcrew's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the tail of the DHC-8-400 that was stopped on the lead in line of the gate.

the A330 flight crew's failure to maintain a safe clearance to the DHC-8 that was stopped in front of the gate.

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.

Airbus A330

Perception/orientation/illusion: perceptionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Flight crewAll aircraft: 61 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

N341NG · Bombardier DHC-8-402

Perception/orientation/illusion: perceptionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftBombardier DHC-8-402: 1 caseAll aircraft: 61 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftBombardier DHC-8-402: 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.

N341NG · Bombardier DHC-8-402

Analysis

On August 10, 2012, at about 3:15 PM EDT, Lufthansa flight 417, an Airbus A330, D-AIKE, collided with Colgan Air flight 3912, d.b.a. United Express, a Bombardier DHC-8-400, N341NG, while the Airbus was taxiing for takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. At the time of the accident, the DHC-8 was stopped and waiting for ramp workers to assist with parking at gate A1C. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. The DHC-8 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the Airbus sustained minor damage to its right wingtip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The DHC-8 landed on runway 19C at IAD and proceeded on taxiway (TWY) A after exiting the runway. After arriving in the ramp area, ramp control cleared the flight to proceed to gate of A1C via TWY A5, which required crossing TWY B. The captain stopped the aircraft short of the gate on the lead in line and set the parking brake because there were no ramp workers present to marshal the airplane in. The A330 was pushed back from gate B49 and cleared to taxi towards TWY J via TWY B and to "hold short of A5." Prior to reaching A5, the flight was cleared to proceed to TWY J. Shortly after this, the captain saw the DHC-8 stopped near the gate and reduced taxi speed and asked the first officer if there was sufficient space on the right side for the A330 to pass. The first officer replied that the DHC-8 appeared to be at its proper parking space and that there was enough room. As the A330 taxied past, its winglet struck the DCH-8 rudder and vertical stabilizer. The A330 crew stated they never received any notification from ground control or ramp control that the DCH-8 was obstructing the taxiway or not in its parking position.

On August 10, 2012, at about 3:15 PM EDT, Lufthansa flight 417, an Airbus A330, D-AIKE, collided with Colgan Air flight 3912, d.b.a. United Express, a Bombardier DHC-8-400, N341NG, while the Airbus was taxiing for takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. At the time of the accident, the DHC-8 was stopped and waiting for ramp workers to assist with parking at gate A1C. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. The DHC-8 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the Airbus sustained minor damage to its right wingtip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The DHC-8 landed on runway 19C at IAD and proceeded on taxiway (TWY) A after exiting the runway. After arriving in the ramp area, ramp control cleared the flight to proceed to gate of A1C via TWY A5, which required crossing TWY B. The captain stopped the aircraft short of the gate on the lead in line and set the parking brake because there were no ramp workers present to marshal the airplane in. The A330 was pushed back from gate B49 and cleared to taxi towards TWY J via TWY B and to "hold short of A5." Prior to reaching A5, the flight was cleared to proceed to TWY J. Shortly after this, the captain saw the DHC-8 stopped near the gate and reduced taxi speed and asked the first officer if there was sufficient space on the right side for the A330 to pass. The first officer replied that the DHC-8 appeared to be at its proper parking space and that there was enough room. As the A330 taxied past, its winglet struck the DCH-8 rudder and vertical stabilizer. The A330 crew stated they never received any notification from ground control or ramp control that the DCH-8 was obstructing the taxiway or not in its parking position.

Factual narrative

On August 10, 2012, at about 3:15 PM EDT, Lufthansa flight 417, an Airbus A330, D-AIKE, collided with Colgan Air flight 3912, d.b.a. United Express, a Bombardier DHC-8-400, N341NG, while the Airbus was taxiing for takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. At the time of the accident, the DHC-8 was stopped and waiting for ramp workers to assist with parking at gate A1C. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. The DHC-8 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the Airbus sustained minor damage to its right wingtip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The DHC-8 landed on runway 19C at IAD and proceeded on taxiway (TWY) A after exiting the runway. After arriving in the ramp area, ramp control cleared the flight to proceed to gate of A1C via TWY A5, which required crossing TWY B. The captain stopped the aircraft short of the gate on the lead in line and set the parking brake because there were no ramp workers present to marshal the airplane in. The A330 was pushed back from gate B49 and cleared to taxi towards TWY J via TWY B and to "hold short of A5." Prior to reaching A5, the flight was cleared to proceed to TWY J. Shortly after this, the captain saw the DHC-8 stopped near the gate and reduced taxi speed and asked the first officer if there was sufficient space on the right side for the A330 to pass. The first officer replied that the DHC-8 appeared to be at its proper parking space and that there was enough room. As the A330 taxied past, its winglet struck the DCH-8 rudder and vertical stabilizer. The A330 crew stated they never received any notification from ground control or ramp control that the DCH-8 was obstructing the taxiway or not in its parking position.

On August 10, 2012, at about 3:15 PM EDT, Lufthansa flight 417, an Airbus A330, D-AIKE, collided with Colgan Air flight 3912, d.b.a. United Express, a Bombardier DHC-8-400, N341NG, while the Airbus was taxiing for takeoff at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. At the time of the accident, the DHC-8 was stopped and waiting for ramp workers to assist with parking at gate A1C. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crewmembers on either airplane. The DHC-8 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the Airbus sustained minor damage to its right wingtip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The DHC-8 landed on runway 19C at IAD and proceeded on taxiway (TWY) A after exiting the runway. After arriving in the ramp area, ramp control cleared the flight to proceed to gate of A1C via TWY A5, which required crossing TWY B. The captain stopped the aircraft short of the gate on the lead in line and set the parking brake because there were no ramp workers present to marshal the airplane in. The A330 was pushed back from gate B49 and cleared to taxi towards TWY J via TWY B and to "hold short of A5." Prior to reaching A5, the flight was cleared to proceed to TWY J. Shortly after this, the captain saw the DHC-8 stopped near the gate and reduced taxi speed and asked the first officer if there was sufficient space on the right side for the A330 to pass. The first officer replied that the DHC-8 appeared to be at its proper parking space and that there was enough room. As the A330 taxied past, its winglet struck the DCH-8 rudder and vertical stabilizer. The A330 crew stated they never received any notification from ground control or ramp control that the DCH-8 was obstructing the taxiway or not in its parking position.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
D-AIKE
Reported as
Airbus A330 (343)
Category
Airplane
Engines
Rolls Royce TRENT772B, turbo fanRolls Royce TRENT772B, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 129
Operator
Lufthansa
Registered owner
Lufthansa
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
IAD · Dulles, VA
Destination
FRA · Frankfurt
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
IAD · Washington Dulles Internationa
Registration
N341NG
Reported as
Bombardier DHC-8-402
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4341
Engines
P&W Canada PW150A, 4,580 lbs thrust, turbo propP&W Canada PW150A, 4,580 lbs thrust, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Colgan Air Inc, doing business as United Express
Registered owner
Colgan Air Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Departed
PIT · Pittsburgh, PA
Destination
IAD · Dulles, VA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
IAD · Washington Dulles Internationa

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
190° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles