# NTSB MIA88IA072: Boeing 727-231, N54344, Miami, FL, December 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1987, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7954° N, 80.2901° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7954&lon=-80.2901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 131 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32051
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88IA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32051/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88IA072

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN THE TAIL TO THE RIGHT AS VIEWED BY THE SIGNAL MAN DURING POWER BACK. AS POWER BACK STARTED THE TAIL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT AS VIEWED BY THE SIGNAL MAN. THE SIGNAL MAN CORRECTED THIS TURN BUT THE ACFT WAS NOW MAKING A MUCH LARGER ARC AND WAS APPROACHING THE AIRCRAFT PARKING AREA AT THE OPPOSITE CONCOURSE. THE SIGNAL MAN URGENTLY SIGNALED FOR THE PLT TO COME FORWARD BUT THE ACFT ROLLED BACK ANOTHER 40 TO 50 FEET STRIKING A PARKED CARGO LOADER. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT WAS BEING POWER BACKED AT A MUCH GREATER SPEED THAN NORMAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54344](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54344-2006-08-14), registration cancelled 2006-08-14, S/N 21631, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-231
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-231) (registry code 1384079) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21632
- Airframe hours: 21217
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Trans World Airlines, doing business as Twa
- Registered owner: Trans World Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 16, 1987, 74 hours before
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MIA, Miami International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,018 total, 8,823 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19871227074799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871227074799I), Dec 27, 1987: Boeing 727231, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck pallet loader during power back from gate. Damage to right wing aileron. Directed by wing walkers.

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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