# NTSB LAX97LA073: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15, N151SY, Las Vegas, NV, December 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 1996, 18:00 local (Dec 23, 1996, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080886, -115.14022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0809&lon=-115.1402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 339 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29704/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA073 ## Probable cause the ramp agent's failure to maintain a good situational awareness of the push-back. A factor was the dark night lighting conditions and the general communication failure of the ground push-back crew. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, taxi - pushback/tow - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - crew/group coordination - inadequate, ground personnel (contributing factor) - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, ground personnel (cause) ## Analysis The ramp agent was functioning as the 'talker' during the push back operation and his headset was plugged into the aircraft at the nose wheel well. The agent realized he had forgotten his lighted hand wands and moved to the wheel well to unplug his headset from the aircraft just as the tug driver started pushing the aircraft back from the gate. The injured agent's foot and ankle were run over and crushed by one of the nose wheel tires. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 1996, at 1800 hours Pacific standard time, a ramp agent was injured during the push-back of Sun Country Airlines flight 94 from the gate at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15, N151SY, was operated by Sun Country Airlines, Inc., as a non-scheduled domestic passenger charter flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The ramp agent sustained serious injuries when his foot and ankle were run over by the nose landing gear tires. The 3 flight deck crew, 9 cabin attendants, and 327 passengers onboard the aircraft were not injured. There was no damage to the aircraft. The flight was originating as a non-stop flight to Detroit, Michigan. The ramp agent was functioning as the "talker" during the push back operation and his headset was plugged into the aircraft at the nose wheel well. The agent realized he had forgotten his lighted hand wands and moved to the wheel well to unplug his headset from the aircraft just as the tug driver started pushing the aircraft back from the gate. The injured agent's foot and ankle were run over and crushed by one of the nose wheel tires. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N151SY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N151SY-2002-01-15), registration cancelled 2002-01-15, S/N 48295, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-15) (registry code 3022118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-50 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-50-series) (registry code 30018, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 48295 - Airframe hours: 32178 - Engines: GE CF6-50 52500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Sun Country Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co. Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 22, 1996, 5 hours before - Departed: LAS - Destination: DET, DETROIT, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAS, Mccarran International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,800 total, 2,862 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 210° at 15 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 19961222042409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961222042409A), Dec 22, 1996: Doug DC1015, Las Vegas, NV. Ramp agents foot run over on push back from gate. Ankle was crushed. 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.