- Date
- August 5, 1995, 21:10 local (Aug 6, 1995, 01:10 UTC)
- Place
- Orlando, FL
- Injuries
- 165 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Pushback/towing
- Aircraft
- N764ATBoeing 727-264
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report October 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950805023669A
- Case key
- 37809
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 failure of the ground crew to follow procedures/directives requiring that the airplane brakes be set before disconnecting the tow bar from the airplane.
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
After pushback, with all engines operating and the airplane brakes applied, the ground crew reported difficulty disconnecting the tow bar from the airplane. The flightcrew released the brakes at the request of the ground crew, and the tow bar was disconnected first from the airplane then the tug. While the ground crewmember was reconnecting the tow bar to the tug, he observed the airplane moving forward and advised the captain to apply the airplane brakes. The airplane then collided with the tug.
Factual narrative
On August 5, 1995, about 2110 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 727-264, N764AT, operated by American Trans Air, collided with a tug while on the ramp at the Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 121 domestic, scheduled, passenger flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the flightcrew of 3, cabin crew of 4 and 158 passengers were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The flight and ground crews stated that during the pushback from the gate all engines were started. The airplane was stopped and the brakes were applied during which the ground crew reported difficulty disconnecting the tow bar from the airplane. The flightcrew stated that the brakes were released at the request of the ground crew who then disconnected the tow bar first from the tug then from the airplane. While the ground crewmember was reconnecting the tow bar to the tug, he observed the airplane moving forward and advised the captain to apply the brakes. The airplane then collided with the tug.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N764AT
- Reported as
- Boeing 727-264
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22984
- Airframe hours
- 37,499
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-17A, 16,000 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- American Trans Air
- Registered owner
- First Security Bank Of Utah
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 24, 1995 · 1,220 hours before
- Departed
- MCO
- Destination
- MKE · Milwaukee, WI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MCO · Orlando International
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,800 total · 1,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCO, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N764AT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.