- Date
- July 27, 1991, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Dfw Airport, TX
- Injuries
- 132 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N491AAMcDonnell Douglas MD-80N405AEBritish Aerospace J-3100
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19910727063181A19910727063182A
- Case key
- 23379
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 captain of the other aircraft misjudged clearance between his aircraft and the standing commuter airplane. A factor was the failure by the second pilot of the other airplane to identify a hazardous condition.
The captain misjudged clearance between his aircraft and the standing commuter airplane. A factor was the failure of the second pilot to identify a hydroplane condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Two commuter aircraft were instructed to taxi on taxiway f, turn right into taxiway 32, and hold for departure from runway 36R. They were followed by the MD-80 which remained on taxiway f and was cleared to taxi past and behind the commuters. The pilot of the MD-80 attempted to taxi by the standing aircraft. The right wing tip of the MD-80 struck the tail cone area of the standing commuter airplane. The first officer of the MD-80 stated he and his captain were busy in the cockpit when the impact occurred.
Two commuter aircraft were instructed to taxi on taxiway f, turn right into taxiway 32, and hold for departure from runway 36R. They were followed by the MD-80 which remained on taxiway f and was cleared to taxi past and behind the commuters. The pilot of the MD-80 attempted to taxi by the standing aircraft. The right wing tip of the MD-80 struck the tail cone area of the standing commuter airplane. The first officer of the MD-80 stated he and his captain were busy in the cockpit when the impact occurred.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N491AA
- Reported as
- McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 49684
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-217, 20,850 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Airlines
- Registered owner
- American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- OKC · Oklahoma City, OK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DFW · Dallas Fort Worth
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
- N405AE
- Reported as
- British Aerospace J-3100
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 650
- Airframe hours
- 11,472
- Engine
- Garrett TPE-331, 940 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Metro Airlines
- Registered owner
- United States Tr Co.Ny Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 23, 1991 · 20 hours before
- Destination
- SPS · Wichita Falls, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DFW · Dallas Fort Worth
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N491AA
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 1,220 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N405AE
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,900 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.