# NTSB DCA22LA053: Airbus A330, Newark, NJ, December 31, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 30, 2021, 22:45 local (Dec 31, 2021, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.6895, -74.1745
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6895&lon=-74.1745&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 59 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): 104463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104463/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104463
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA053

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

Turkish Airlines flightcrew’ s misperception of the distance to safely pass the stopped Republic Airways airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md)
- [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The flight crew of a Republic Airways Embraer 170, operating as United Express flight 3417, said they had stopped their airplane and set the parking brake while waiting for gate personnel to finish preparing gate 88 at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) to receive their flight, when their airplane was struck by a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 that was taxiing past. The Embraer airplane received substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The captain of Turkish Airlines flight TK0029, said that after landing they were cleared to taxi to gate 63, and while taxiing on Taxiway A, there was an airplane stopped on the right-side apron. The captain said that no information had been relayed that an airplane had stopped short of the parking area, and he slowed his taxi speed, but did not realize that the stopped airplane had not fully pulled into and parked at the gate. He perceived that there was sufficient clearance, so he decided to pass. After reaching gate 63 and parking he said that he was informed of the collision. An inspection of the A330 airplane revealed paint transfer on the right winglet.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: TC-JOK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A330
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1642
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Turkish Airlines
- Registered owner: Berra4
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LTFM, Istanbul, OF
- Destination: EWR, Newark, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark Liberty Intl

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N633RW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER ERJ 170-100 SE
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17000054
- Year built: 2004
- Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Republic Airways Inc
- Registered owner: Republic Airways Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SAV, Savannah, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 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 20211230022302A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211230022302A), Dec 30, 2021: Embraer ERJ 170-100 SE, Newark, NJ, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted], An emb 170, was holding on the guide in line to gate C-87 (kewr) waiting for marshalers. However,[privacy data omitted] was not close…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104463. 9.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - republic airlines airplane (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA053%20-%206120%20Republic%20EWR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - turkish airlines (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284866&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA053%20-%206120_tcjok_311221_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - turkish airlines captain (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13283629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA053%20-TURKISH%20AIRLINES%20TK29%2030DEC21%20CAPTAIN%20REPORT_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Other pertinent forms and reports - turkish airlines report (item 4, PDF, 10 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284726&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DCA22LA053%20-%20O18837-21%20GROUND%20ACCIDENT%20-%20WING%20TIP%20STRIKE-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements republic airlines captain (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14032485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Report_%237585%20CA%20case%20no.%20DCA22LA053-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements - republic airlines fo (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14032647&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Submission_%2311890%20FO%20case%20no.%20DCA22LA053-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.

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