# NTSB DCA19CA079: Airbus A320, N220FR, Denver, CO, January 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 28, 2019, 06:17 local (13:17 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.856109, -104.67361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8561&lon=-104.6736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Pushback/towing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 126 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 98963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA19CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98963/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98963 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA079 ## Probable cause loss of control of the tug by the driver during pushback operations as a result of the contaminated ramp, angle of the towbar, and the airplane engines being at idle thrust. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Towing and taxiing: towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Pushback/towing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A320-214, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=3940006), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis On January 28, 2019, about 0617 mountain standard time, Frontier Airlines flight 450, an Airbus A320-214, N220FR, was struck by the tug during pushback operations at Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado. There were no injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from KDEN to Buffalo International Airport (KBUF), Buffalo, New York. According to flight crew statements, the crew advised the tug driver they were cleared to push back, either tail east or straight back. At the time of the accident, dark night conditions existed and the ramp was contaminated with snow. During the pushback, the flight crew started No. 1 and 2 engines. The tug driver pushed the airplane back with its empennage towards the east and then notified the captain that he would pull forward to straighten them out. As the tug driver pulled the airplane forward and was coming to a stop the airplane's nose began to drift to the left. The tug detached from the airplane and impacted the right forward fuselage and right engine air intake resulting in substantial damage. The captain noted that the nose swung to the left, and then said it felt as if the airplane was moving backwards. According to the operator, on the morning of the accident, the ramp management company had instructed their ground personnel that all pushbacks should be straight back pushes due to the snowy conditions. It is likely that the angle of the towbar from pushing the airplane back to the east, combined with the snow contaminated ramp and the engine idle thrust, caused the tug driver to lose control of the tug during the pushback. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220FR-2022-07-11), registration cancelled 2022-07-11, S/N 5661, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus A320 (214) - Registry model: [Airbus A320-214](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-214) (registry code 3940006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56-5B4/3 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b4-3-series) (registry code 13090, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5661 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Cfm Intl CFM56-5B4/3 turbo fan; Cfm Intl CFM56-5B4/3 turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Frontier Airlines - Registered owner: Bank Of Utah Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: KDIA, Denver, CO - Destination: BUF, Buffalo, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KDIA, Denver International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,683 total, 11,683 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,651 total, 14,651 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: variable at 17 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20190128023919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190128023919A), Jan 28, 2019: Airbus A320-214, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. During the pushback from gate A36 the tug operator was attempting to straighten the position of the aircraft in the taxiway so that the tail of the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98963. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 938 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13289591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - flight crew (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13289323&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA19CA079%20Statements_Redacted-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.