# NTSB NYC05LA043: Boeing 737-247, N373DL, Covington, KY, January 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2005, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Covington, KY - Coordinates: 39.046112, -84.661941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0461&lon=-84.6619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 14 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Louisville FSDO, Delta Airlines - NTSB case key (mKey): 60868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60868/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA043 ## Probable cause The catering truck driver's failure to maintain clearance of the parked airplane by his inadvertent depressing the accelerator. A factor in this accident was the catering truck driver's diverted attention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - clearance - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - diverted attention, ground personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was parked at a gate and boarding passengers, when it was struck on it's right side by a catering truck. Damage to the fuselage included a 6-inch, by 14-inch puncture, and several small dents. In addition, two formers and one stringer were damaged. The driver of the catering truck reported that he was approaching the airplane, when he received a radio call. While talking over the radio, he inadvertently stepped on the accelerator, and the truck subsequently struck the airplane. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2005, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-247, N373DL, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a catering truck, while parked at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky. The 2 airline transport certificated flight crewmembers, 2 flight attendants, and 10 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the scheduled flight operated by Delta Airlines, as fight 583. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a representative from Delta Airlines, the airplane was parked at gate B18, and was in the process of boarding passengers, when it was struck on it's right side by a catering truck. Damage to the fuselage included a 6-inch, by 14-inch puncture, and several small dents. In addition, two formers and one stringer were damaged. The driver of the catering truck reported that he was approaching the airplane when he received a radio call. While talking over the radio, he inadvertently stepped on the accelerator, and the truck subsequently struck the airplane. The driver had been hired about 1 month prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N373DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N373DL-2006-12-20), registration cancelled 2006-12-20, S/N 23520, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-247 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-247](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-247) (registry code 138448D) (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: 23520 - Airframe hours: 46832 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 1, 2005 - Departed: CVG, Covington, KY - Destination: TPA, Tampa, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CVG, Cincinnatti/Northern Kentucky ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,513 total, 398 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 6,960 total, 1,165 in this make and model, 174 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.64 inHg - Observed at: CVG ## 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 20050117001589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050117001589A), Jan 17, 2005: Boeing 737247, Covington/Cinci, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1240EST on 01/17/2005 delta airlines aircraft N373DL, a Boeing 737-247 series boarding passengers for flt 583 sustained substantial… 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.