# NTSB FTW92LA005: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63F, N952R, Dfw Airport, TX, October 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1991, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Dfw Airport, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18397/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA005

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE WING TIP CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES PERTAINING TO TAXIWAY AND RAMP CLEARANCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - other
  - wing,wingtip - sheared
  - procedures/directives - not followed, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A CARGO TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIING TO THE CARGO RAMP TO UNLOAD ITS CARGO WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK A LARGE PORTABLE MAINTENANCE STAND. THE MAINTENANCE STAND HAD BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED NINE FEET BEYOND THE MARKED TAXIWAY CLEAR ZONE. THE OUTBOARD 18 INCHES OF THE LEFT WING TIP WAS TORN OFF BY THE COLLISION, WHICH ALSO CAUSED A 75 TO 80 GALLON FUEL SPILL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N952R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46061
- Airframe hours: 62039
- Engines: P&W JT3D-7 19000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Aerolease
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 1991, 24 hours before
- Departed: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dfw, runway 18, 11,388 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,500 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19911004045109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911004045109A), Oct 4, 1991: Doug DC863F, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Taxiing to ramp left wing hit maintenance stand left unattended nine feet beyond taci line. Wing tip torn off.

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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