DCA17CA181

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737 832 · Queens, NY · August 15, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 15, 2017, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
Place
Queens, NY
Injuries
295 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N377DABoeing 737 832N175ANBoeing 757
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 8, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
FAA report
20170815020672A
Case key
95831

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 Delta B737 captain's failure to maintain proper clearance between his airplane and the stopped American B757.

Findings · 2

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.

N377DA · Boeing 737 832

N175AN · Boeing 757

Info processing/decision: decision making/judgmentPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftBoeing 757-223: 2 casesAll aircraft: 3,098 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.

N377DA · Boeing 737 832

N175AN · Boeing 757

Analysis

On August 15, 2017, at approximately 6:15 PM EDT, American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing B757, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing B737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), Queens, New York. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.

Factual narrative

On August 15, 2017, at approximately 6:15 PM EDT, American Airlines flight 290, a Boeing B757, N175AN, was stationary awaiting takeoff clearance when it was struck by Delta Air Lines flight 2503, a Boeing B737-800, N377DA, as it was taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK), Queens, New York. There were no injuries to the 129 passengers and crew onboard the B757, nor to the 166 passengers and crew onboard the B737. The American Airlines B757 sustained substantial damage and the Delta Air Lines B737 sustained minor damage. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. According to flight crew statements, the American Airlines B757 taxied down taxiway C and turned onto taxiway FB where it stopped short of runway 22R and was awaiting takeoff clearance. The Delta B737 followed the American B757 down taxiway C and was then instructed to taxi behind the American B757 and to continue to taxiway E. The Delta captain stated he steered slightly to the right of the taxiway centerline to keep clear of the stopped American B757. He then steered back towards the centerline once he thought his left winglet had cleared the American B757s tail when he felt a bump. After stopping, emergency personnel inspected both airplanes and indicated that Delta's left winglet had contacted the American B757 right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. Both aircraft taxied back to their respective gates under their own power and passengers deplaned normally.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N377DA
Reported as
Boeing 737 832 (832)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
29625
Built
1999
Airframe hours
57,611.59
Engines
General Electric CFM56-7B26, 26,000 lbs thrust, turbo fanGeneral Electric CFM56-7B26, 26,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Delta Air Lines
Registered owner
Delta Air Lines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · August 14, 2017
Departed
JFK · Queens, NY
Destination
SEA · Seattle, WA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
JFK · John F Kennedy Intl
Equipment
Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, 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
N175AN
Reported as
Boeing 757 (223)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
32394
Built
2001
Airframe hours
50,926
Engines
Rolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES, turbo fanRolls-Royc RB.211 SERIES, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines
Registered owner
American Airlines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · August 11, 2017
Departed
JFK · Queens, NY
Destination
DUB · Dublin
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
JFK · John F Kennedy Intl
Equipment
Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

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 · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N377DA
Age
54
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Last flight review
January 6, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
15,043 total · 2,516 in this make and model · 2,184 as pilot in command
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N377DA
Age
41
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Last flight review
June 5, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
755 total · 755 in this make and model · 0 as pilot in command · 117 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N175AN
Age
56
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 26, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
4,161 in this make and model
Role
Pilot, aircraft N175AN
Age
55
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight engineer, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 18, 2017
Seat
Left
Flight hours
13,255 total · 5,696 in this make and model · 8,801 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 4 knots

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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