# NTSB FTW02LA199: McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N911DL, Houston, TX, July 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2002, 09:22 local (14:22 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.645277, -95.278892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6453&lon=-95.2789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 63 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Delta Air Lines, Federal Aviation Inspector - NTSB case key (mKey): 55112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55112/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55112 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA199 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked vehicles. Factors contributing to the accident were the airport's failure to properly identify the construction area, their failure to publish a notice to airmen. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not coordinated/diseminated, airport personnel (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - construction area (contributing factor) - notams - not available, airport personnel (contributing factor) - wrong taxi route - used, flightcrew - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis After landing on runway 12R, the MD-88 aircraft was cleared by ground control to "cross runway 22 and taxi to the gate." The pilot taxied on taxiway Zulu, which is parallel to taxiway Yankee. Taxiway Zulu was closed due to construction; however, the construction was not posted on the ATIS, NOTAM's, or dispatcher's release from the company. The ground controller also failed to mention to the flight that taxiway Zulu was closed. The left wing of the taxiing air carrier collided with a parked forklift and a truck and trailer loaded with aluminum siding material while taxiing to gate 26. The pilot stated that he taxied the airplane on the centerline of the taxiway and he was not aware of the collision until he arrived at the terminal. ## Factual narrative On July 02, 2002, at 0922 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 transport airplane, N911DL, operating as Delta flight 239, was substantially damaged when the left wing of the airplane collided with a parked construction truck while taxiing to Gate 29 at the Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), near Houston, Texas. There were no injuries to the 5 crewmembers and the 58 passengers. There were no reported injuries to anyone on the ground. The airplane, owned by the Wilmington Trust Company of Wilmington, Delaware, was being operated on a scheduled domestic passenger flight by Delta Airlines, of Atlanta, Georgia, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Atlanta, Georgia, at 0730. After landing on runway 12R, flight 239 was cleared by ground control to "cross runway 22 and taxi to the gate." The pilot taxied on taxiway Zulu, which is parallel to taxiway Yankee. Taxiway Zulu was closed due to construction; however, the construction was not posted on the ATIS, NOTAM's, or the dispatcher’s release from the company. Ground control did not mention that Taxiway Zulu was closed. As the aircraft taxied to Gate 26, a heavy duty fork lift and a construction truck with a trailer loaded with aluminum siding were parked on the left side of taxiway Zulu. As the airplane taxied by the construction area, the left wing skipped over top of the parked forklift and collided with a load of siding material that was loaded on the trailer being towed by the parked truck. A stack of siding material loaded on the top of the trailer was pushed forward onto the rear window of the truck, with the decking material penetrating the rear window. There were no reported injuries to anyone on the ground. Examination of damaged left wing by the operator revealed that the leading edge of the left wing , about 2 feet from the wing tip, received a 3-foot puncture approximately 6 inches deep. Additionally, deep scratches, yellow paint transfers, and torn skin were found on the underside of the left wing starting from the leading edge, and continuing to the trailing edge. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the captain stated that upon landing on runway 12R at HOU, he received clearance from ground control to taxi to the gate. The captain taxied the airplane along taxiway Charlie toward the gate. As he approached the ramp area, he turned left onto taxiway Yankee. He observed construction work separated by a barricade to his left, and to his right parked aircraft. He made his transition to taxiway Zulu, and while taxing along the centerline of taxiway Zulu, felt a vibration that lasted for a brief period. There where no indications of any abnormality. Shortly thereafter, the captain taxied to gate 26 at concourse C. Ground personnel entered the jetway and informed him that moments before the aircraft arrived at the gate, the left wing of the aircraft came in contact with a ground vehicle. The FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that the number one slat and left aileron were damaged and the left wing sustained structural damage. No fuel spilled from the left wing. The flight taxied to the gate under its own power, where passengers disembarked the airplane by normal means. Taxiway Zulu was closed by way of barricades following the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911DL-2024-12-30), registration cancelled 2024-12-30, S/N 49542, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49542 - Airframe hours: 39895 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney FT8D-219 21000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Delta Airlines - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 9, 2002, 48 hours before - Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HOU, William P. Hobby, runway 12R, 7,602 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 7,242 total, 2,304 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 14, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,616 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: HOU ## 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 20020702013659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020702013659A), Jul 2, 2002: Doug MD88, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 02, 2002, at 0922 central daylight time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 transport category airplane, N911DL, operating as delta flight 239, was… ## Other investigations on N911DL (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA19CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA208), Aug 27, 2019: Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 (N911DL), Chicago, IL, no damage. Probable cause: an encounter with convective turbulence during descent. ## Docket (20 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55112. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Dispatch information (item 2, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Dispatch%20information-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 493 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photo 01: Forklift and Truck/Trailer parked on left side of Taxiway Zulu (item 4, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%3A%20Forklift%20and%20Truck%2FTrailer%20parked%20on%20left%20side%20of%20Taxiway%20Zulu-Master.PDF - Photo 02: Damage to the top of forklift (item 5, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002%3A%20Damage%20to%20the%20top%20of%20forklift-Master.PDF - Photo 03: View of the top of the forklift (item 6, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003%3A%20View%20of%20the%20top%20of%20the%20forklift-Master.PDF - Photo 04: Another view of the top of the forklift (item 7, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2004%3A%20Another%20view%20of%20the%20top%20of%20the%20forklift-Master.PDF - Photo 05: View of the stacked siding materials on trailer (item 8, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2005%3A%20View%20of%20the%20stacked%20siding%20materials%20on%20trailer-Master.PDF - Photo 6: Displaced siding material (item 9, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%3A%20Displaced%20siding%20material-Master.PDF - Photo 7: Siding material penetrating the rear window of truck (item 10, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%3A%20Siding%20material%20penetrating%20the%20rear%20window%20of%20truck-Master.PDF - Photo 8: Another view of the displaced siding material (item 11, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%3A%20Another%20view%20of%20the%20displaced%20siding%20material-Master.PDF - Photo 9: View of Flight 239 parked at gate 26 (item 12, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%3A%20View%20of%20Flight%20239%20parked%20at%20gate%2026-Master.PDF - Photo 10: View of the left side of the aircraft. (item 13, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209007&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%3A%20View%20of%20the%20left%20side%20of%20the%20aircraft.-Master.PDF - Photo 11: View of damage to left wing (item 14, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011%3A%20View%20of%20damage%20to%20left%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 12: Another view of the damaged wing (item 15, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012%3A%20Another%20view%20of%20the%20damaged%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 13: Close up of the damaged area (item 16, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013%3A%20Close%20up%20of%20the%20damaged%20area-Master.PDF - Photo 14: View of the underside of the wing (item 17, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209011&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014%3A%20View%20of%20the%20underside%20of%20the%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 15: View of the underside of the left wing (item 18, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2015%3A%20View%20of%20the%20underside%20of%20the%20left%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 16: Another view of the damaged wing (item 19, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209014&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2016%3A%20Another%20view%20of%20the%20damaged%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 17: View of Taxiway Zulu (item 20, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40209015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2017%3A%20View%20of%20Taxiway%20Zulu-Master.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.