# NTSB LAX03LA167: Boeing 757-223, N692AA, Santa Ana, CA, May 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2003, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.681667, -117.869163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6817&lon=-117.8692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 103 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57078/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA167 ## Probable cause the vehicle driver's failure to deploy the parking brake or use wheel chocks to secure the vehicle prior to leaving it unattended. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - parking brakes - not deployed, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle - wheel chocks - not used, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis An unattended crash fire rescue (CFR) vehicle rolled into a stationary jet awaiting instructions from the control tower. Following a medical aid call in the terminal, an airport firefighter was dispatched to the terminal where he parked his CFR vehicle at one of the gates. The driver of the vehicle was in the terminal at the time of the accident and did not remember setting the parking brake on his vehicle. He also forgot to place the anti-roll tire chocks under his vehicle before entering the terminal. The vehicle then rolled into the jet that was stationary on a taxiway. During the impact, the vehicle became lodged between the fuselage and wing root on the right side of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2003, at 1210 Pacific daylight time, American Airlines Flight 250, a Boeing 757-223, N692AA, was struck by an unattended Crash Fire & Rescue (CFR) vehicle while preparing for departure at John Wayne Airport/Orange County, Santa Ana, California. American Airlines, Inc., was operating the airplane as a scheduled domestic passenger flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. The airline transport pilot licensed captain, airline transport licensed first officer, 4 flight attendants, and 97 passengers were not injured. The flight was scheduled to depart John Wayne Airport as a nonstop to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. Around noon, an Orange County Fire Authority Engineer was dispatched to a medical aid call in the terminal. After parking his CFR vehicle at Gate 8, he entered the terminal. Shortly afterwards, the unattended vehicle rolled under the momentum of its own weight in the direction of the Airport Operations Area of Taxiway A. The vehicle then broadsided a stationary American Airlines Boeing 757 that was awaiting instructions from the control tower. The driver of the vehicle was in the terminal at the time and first noticed the accident from a terminal window. When questioned by an Orange County Sheriff after the accident, he stated that he did not remember setting the parking brake on his vehicle. He also forgot to set the anti-roll tire chocks underneath his vehicle before entering the terminal. During the impact, the fire truck became wedged between the fuselage and wing root on the right side of the airplane. Damage to the airplane included a 3- foot tear in the wing to body fairing, a 12-inch hole in the fuselage skin, dents and small holes in the wing root area, number 6 slat, and right engine nose cowl. Several fan blades were also damaged. The CFR vehicle sustained damage to its windshield and upper right portion of its cab. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N692AA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N692AA), registered now, S/N 26972, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757-223 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-223) (registry code 1384957) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce RB-211 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-rb-211-series) (registry code 54555, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36972 - Engines: Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 42500 lbs thrust turbo jet; Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 42500 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: SNA, Santa Ana, CA - Destination: JFK, New York, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SNA, John Wayne/Orange County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 4,300 in this make and model, 21,000 as pilot in command, 233 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 16,900 total, 2,600 in this make and model, 985 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SNA ## 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 20030520009399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030520009399A), May 20, 2003: Boeing 757223, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) American airlines flight 250, a B-757, had pushed back from gate 9 at John Wayne airport (ksna) with tail south. Engines had been started and ground… 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.