# NTSB DCA13CA106: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, N995DL, Nashville, TN, June 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 13, 2013, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Coordinates: 36.121387, -86.673614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1214&lon=-86.6736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 156 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 87196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA13CA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87196/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87196 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA13CA106 ## Probable cause The flight crews failure to maintain clearance from the light pole while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3023688), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=3023688), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis With an expected 20 to 25 minute hold time before departure, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and ground clearance was given for the flight crew to taxi to a hold area to wait. While positioning in the hold area, the airplane's right wing impacted a light pole. The passengers were deplaned via air stairs and no injuries occurred. An examination of the right wing by maintenance personnel revealed that the right wing spar had sustained substantial damage. The Captain, who was at the controls, reported that he had not seen the light pole before impact. The First Officer reported looking up and seeing the light pole; however, he observed that the Captain was turning away from the pole before the impact. It was further reported that there was no pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane's flight controls. ## Factual narrative With an expected 20 to 25 minute hold time before departure, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and ground clearance was given for the flight crew to taxi to a hold area to wait. While positioning in the hold area, the airplane's right wing impacted a light pole. The passengers were deplaned via air stairs and no injuries occurred. An examination of the right wing by maintenance personnel revealed that the right wing spar had sustained substantial damage. The Captain, who was at the controls, reported that he had not seen the light pole before impact. The First Officer reported looking up and seeing the light pole; however, he observed that the Captain was turning away from the pole before the impact. It was further reported that there was no pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane's flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N995DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N995DL-2022-10-26), registration cancelled 2022-10-26, S/N 53362, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO MD-88 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 53362 - Airframe hours: 56640 - Engines: P & W JT8D-219 21700 lbs thrust turbo fan; P & W JT8D-219 21700 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Air Lines Inc - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 13, 2014 - Departed: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN - Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KBNA, Nashville International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review October 25, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,317 total, 6,935 in this make and model, 185 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review October 20, 2012; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,765 total, 2,765 in this make and model, 217 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KBNA, 1 nm away ## 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 20130613010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130613010889A), Jun 13, 2013: Mcdonnell Douglas Aircraft Co MD-88, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. Crew was taxiing from gate B-7 in the north ramp area to await flow control time to atl in a non movement area which is not marked with taxiway lines. Aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87196. 17.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 15.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2314827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2317451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.