- Date
- October 21, 1992, 11:23 local (16:23 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 29 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- XAAMFMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18602
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 vehicle operator's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout.
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
The airplane had been pushed back from the gate and was taxiing out of the ramp area on the taxi line to its assigned taxiway when it was struck by a motor grader. The motor grader operator did not stop prior to entering the ramp area and was not in a vehicle lane at the time of the collision. The motor grader struck and lodged on its side under the left wing. There was reduced visibility due to fog at the airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- XAAMF
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32
- Category
- Airplane
- Airframe hours
- 34,120
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-17, 16,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Aerovia De Mexico, doing business as Aero Mexico
- Registered owner
- Aerovia De Mexico
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 7, 1987
- Departed
- IAH
- Destination
- MCUN · Cancun
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- IAH · Intercontinental
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg