# NTSB DCA18LA024: Boeing 777, Jamaica, NY, November 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 27, 2017, 19:45 local (Nov 28, 2017, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Jamaica, NY - Coordinates: 40.63972, -73.778892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6397&lon=-73.7789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100); [Standing-engine(s) operating: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100) - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 96383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA18LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96383/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18LA024 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The air traffic controller's improper instruction to the Egypt Air airplane flight crew to pass in an area where passing is prohibited, which led to a ground collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · ATC personnel (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The flight crew of Virgin Atlantic flight 4C stated that they taxied on taxiway K for takeoff at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Jamaica, New York. While starting the right engine, a fault message appeared, and ATC instructed them to stop in the runup area adjacent to K1 and K2. The captain stated that the area was poorly lit and unmarked, and that they stopped well to the right of centerline and set the parking brake. He stated that, as they were about to check the minimum equipment list and flight crew operating manual, their airplane was struck and sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot of Egypt Air flight 986, the airplane was taxiing to runway 04L when the Virgin Atlantic crew requested to hold. After ATC directed the Virgin Atlantic airplane to stop in the runup area, ATC instructed the Egypt Air airplane to line up. The Egypt Air captain stated that they were taxiing on the centerline and as they tried to pass the stopped Virgin Atlantic airplane, the right wing of the Egypt Air airplane impacted the left wing of Virgin Atlantic airplane and sustained substantial damage. The investigation revealed that a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) JFK air traffic control tower supplemental hot clipboard notice stipulated that, on taxiway K in the areas of K1 and K2, two heavy airplanes are not permitted to pass. Therefore, ATC should not have directed the Egypt Air airplane to pass the Virgin Atlantic airplane. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On November 27, 2017, about 1945 eastern standard time, Egypt Air flight 986, a Boeing 777, SU-GDL, and Virgin Atlantic flight 4C, an Airbus A-330, G-VRAY, were both substantially damaged when they were involved in an accident near Jamaica, New York. The commercial pilots, crew, and passengers aboard both airplanes were not injured. Both airplanes were operating as Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 international passenger flights. Flight 986 was en route to Cairo International Airport (CAI), Cairo, Egypt, and flight 4C was en route to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London, United Kingdom. The flight crew of the Virgin Atlantic airplane stated that they were taxiing on taxiway K for takeoff, and while starting the right engine, an electronic centralized aircraft monitor primary 2 fault message appeared. They stated that they informed ATC that they needed to stop and examine the fault notification, and ATC instructed them to stop in the runup area adjacent to K1 and K2. The captain stated that the area was poorly lit and unmarked, and that they stopped well to the right of centerline and set the parking brake, and that the beacon, nav and logo, taxi, runway turn off lights, and wing lights were on. He stated that, as they were about to check the minimum equipment list and flight crew operating manual, their airplane was impacted on the left and sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot of the Egypt Air flight 986, the airplane was taxiing to runway 04L and was second following the Virgin Atlantic airplane when the Virgin Atlantic flight crew requested to hold and was directed by ATC to hold to the right in a runup area. ATC then instructed the Egypt Air airplane to line up, and as the crew tried to pass the stopped Virgin Atlantic airplane, the right wing of the Egypt Air airplane impacted the left wing of Virgin Atlantic airplane and sustained substantial damage. The Egypt Air captain stated that at the time of impact, the Egypt Air airplane was on the centerline of the taxiway. An FAA JFK ATCT supplemental hot clipboard notice which contained runway 04L briefing items for controllers stipulated that, on taxiway K in the areas of K1 and K2, two heavy airplanes are not permitted to pass. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: SU-GDL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOEING 777 (36NER) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38284 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 30090 - Engines: General Electric GE90-115B turbo fan; General Electric GE90-115B turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 129 - Operator: Egypt Airlines - Registered owner: Egypt Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 25, 2017 - Departed: JFK, Jamaica, NY - Destination: HECA, Cairo, OF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John F Kennedy International - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Video recording device ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: G-VRAY (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A330 (343) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L1296 - Airframe hours: 27517 - Engines: Rolls Royce Trent 772B60-16 71100 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls Royce Trent 772B60-16 71100 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 129 - Operator: Virgin Atlantic Airways LTD - Registered owner: Aercap - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: JFK, Jamaica, NY - Destination: London, OF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John F Kennedy International - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Video recording device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 16,977 total, 6,001 in this make and model - Co-pilot, aircraft 1; age 30; injuries: none; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,327 total, 1,219 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 16,450 total, 11,700 in this make and model - Co-pilot, aircraft 2; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,062 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk 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.