- Date
- January 17, 2013, 17:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 397 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Prior to flight
- Aircraft
- F-GZNIBoeing 777 - 300LV-BMTAirbus A340 - 300
- Defining events
- Prior to flight: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 7, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Case key
- 86048
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
LV-BMT flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between the two aircraft, leading to the inadvertent collision of the left winglet with the horizontal stabilizer and elevator of F-GNZI. Contributing to the accident were the incorrect instructions given by the Miami Gates controller to the LV-BMT flight crew.
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.
Boeing 777 - 300
Airbus A340 - 300
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.
Boeing 777 - 300
Airbus A340 - 300
Analysis
After arriving from Ministro Pistarini International Airport (SAEZ), Buenos Aires, Argentina, LV-BMT was directed by Miami ground control to taxi to the passenger terminal via taxiway Q. According to recorded data, LV-BMT was directed to spot 14W and cleared to gate H8A by Miami-Dade Aviation Department Aircraft Gate Control (Miami Gates). About 3 minutes later, the Miami Gates controller attempted to contact LV-BMT three times but used the incorrect flight number. On the third attempt, the crew of LV-BMT responded and were told they were "on the wrong line." The crew responded "14 Whiskey" but did not stop their taxi. While taxiing from spot 14W the left winglet of LV-BMT struck F-GNZI, which was parked at gate H10.
Factual narrative
On January 17, 2013, about 1742 eastern standard time, Air France flight 695, a Boeing B777-300, F-GNZI, was parked at the gate and in the process of boarding passengers at the Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida, when the left winglet of taxiing Aerolineas Argentinas flight 1304, an Airbus 340-300, LV-BMT, struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The elevator of F-GNZI was substantially damaged and LV-BMT sustained minor damage. There were no reported injuries on either aircraft. Both aircraft were being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- F-GZNI
- Reported as
- Boeing 777 - 300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 39973
- Airframe hours
- 8,084
- Engines
- General Electric GE90-115B, 115,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanGeneral Electric GE90-115B, 115,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Air France
- Registered owner
- Jackson Square Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · January 17, 2013
- Airport
- MIA · Miami Intl
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Data recorder
- Registration
- LV-BMT
- Reported as
- Airbus A340 - 300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0048
- Engines
- turbo fanturbo fanturbo fanturbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Aerolineas Argentinas S.A.
- Registered owner
- Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- SAEZ · Buenos Aires
- Destination
- MIA · Miami, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MIA · Miami Intl
- Equipment
- Unknown
Flight crew · 4
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 1
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Foreign, Airline transport
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 22, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 15,096 total · 1,614 in this make and model · 7,234 as pilot in command · 168 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft 1
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 28, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 7,454 total · 1,635 in this make and model · 0 as pilot in command · 152 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 2
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Foreign, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 23, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 22,248 total · 90 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot, aircraft 2
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Foreign, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 3,985 total · 73 in this make and model · 2,149 as pilot in command · 73 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.9 MB in all.