# NTSB MIA88LA075: Boeing 727-200, N705AA, San Juan, PR, December 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1987, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 200 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32117/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA075

## 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
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating
  - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

N705AA WAS NUMBER TWO IN POSITION FOR TAKEOFF BEHIND N893AA. N705AA RECEIVED TAKEOFF CLEARANCE FIRST AND AS IT BEGAN TO TAXI TO THE RUNWAY IT'S LEFT WING TIP STRUCK AND PASSED UNDER THE RIGHT WING TIP OF N893AA.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N705AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N705AA-2021-02-03), registration cancelled 2021-02-03, S/N 22462, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-200
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-200) (registry code 138407E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-217) (registry code 51691, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22462
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: First Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SJU, Luis Muniz Marin Int'L

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N893AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N893AA-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 22009, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-223
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-223) (registry code 1384074) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22009
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Morgan Guaranty Trust Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SJU, Luis Muniz Marin Int'L

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N705AA; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model
- Pilot, aircraft N893AA; age 39; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 12,357 total, 5,375 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19871226074841A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871226074841A), Dec 26, 1987: Boeing 727200, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage. Struck the wing of N893AA while trying to pass on a taxiway to position for takeoff. Both were Boeing 727S.
- [Accident 19871226074842A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871226074842A), Dec 26, 1987: Boeing 727223, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Minor damage. Right wing was struck by a company 707,N705AA, left wing while holding on a taxiway. Other 727 was trying to pass.

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.
