NYC05LA061

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737-72T · Newark, NJ · March 16, 2005

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 16, 2005, 12:58 local (17:58 UTC)
Place
Newark, NJ
Injuries
14 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N50TCBoeing 737-72TN874CGulfstream Aerospace G-IV
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO-25
Case key
61196

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision.

The Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi
Clearance - misjudgedFlightcrewCause
Object - aircraft parked/standing
On ground/water collision with objectTaxi
Clearance - misjudgedFlightcrew of other aircraftCause
Object - aircraft moving on ground

Analysis

A Boeing 737 and a Gulfstream G-IV were parked on the ramp of a fixed based operator. The flightcrew of the Gulfstream had started the engines, and were waiting for taxi clearance. Ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing flightcrew began to taxi out of the ramp area, without ground personnel assisting, and noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, ground personnel moved quickly into position as a right wingwalker and a marshaller. The marshaller first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and its left winglet struck the rudder of the Gulfstream.

A Boeing 737 and a Gulfstream G-IV were parked on the ramp of a fixed based operator. The flightcrew of the Gulfstream had started the engines, and were waiting for taxi clearance. Ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing flightcrew began to taxi out of the ramp area, without ground personnel assisting, and noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, ground personnel moved quickly into position as a right wingwalker and a marshaller. The marshaller first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and its left winglet struck the rudder of the Gulfstream.

Factual narrative

On March 16, 2005, at 1258 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-72T, N50TC, sustained minor damage when it struck a Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, N874C, while taxiing from a ramp area at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey. The Gulfstream was parked at the time, and sustained substantial damage. The two flight crewmembers, one flight attendant, and seven passengers onboard the Boeing; and the two flight crewmembers, one flight attendant, and one passenger onboard the Gulfstream were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for both flights. The Boeing was operated under 14 CFR Part 125, destined for Van Nuys, California. The Gulfstream was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, destined for Bedford, Massachusetts.

The flightcrew of the Boeing stated that they had ground personnel assisting with the taxi. As the Boeing began to taxi from the Signature Flight Support ramp, the flightcrew noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing passed the Gulfstream, the flightcrew felt the airplane rock, and the marshaller signaled to stop. The flightcrew stopped the airplane and realized that the left winglet of the Boeing contacted the rudder of the Gulfstream.

The flightcrew of the Gulfstream stated that they were parked at the Signature Flight Support ramp, had just completed the "After Start" checklist, and were about to request taxi clearance. A left yaw was noticed and the copilot saw the Boeing in his rearview mirror.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream for its taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing began to taxi out of the ramp area without ground personnel assisting. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, the ground personnel at the Gulfstream attempted to get the attention of the Boeing flightcrew; however, the left winglet of the Boeing struck the rudder of the Gulfstream. The rudder of the Gulfstream sustained substantial damage.

According to statements from two ground personnel, they were working with other aircraft on the ramp as the Boeing began to taxi toward the Gulfstream. One of the ground personnel was fueling an airplane to the Boeing's right side, and acted as a right wingwalker; however, he could not see the left side of the Boeing. The other ground personnel hurried from the parked Gulfstream to the taxi line in an attempt to assist the Boeing. He first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and struck the Gulfstream.

Review of a surveillance video revealed a person standing near a parked Gulfstream. The Boeing began to taxi near a fence without ground personnel assisting. As the Boeing continued to taxi and approached the parked Gulfstream, the person near the Gulfstream moved quickly to the taxi line ahead of the Boeing. Due to the quality of the video, the person's hand signals could not be verified, and he was beyond the sight of the camera at the time of collision.

The reported weather at EWR, at 1251, was: wind from 320 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 5,000 feet; broken ceiling at 25,000 feet; temperature 45 degrees F.; dew point 12 degrees F.; altimeter 30.03 inches Hg.

On March 16, 2005, at 1258 eastern standard time, a Boeing 737-72T, N50TC, sustained minor damage when it struck a Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, N874C, while taxiing from a ramp area at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey. The Gulfstream was parked at the time, and sustained substantial damage. The two flight crewmembers, one flight attendant, and seven passengers onboard the Boeing; and the two flight crewmembers, one flight attendant, and one passenger onboard the Gulfstream were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for both flights. The Boeing was operated under 14 CFR Part 125, destined for Van Nuys, California. The Gulfstream was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, destined for Bedford, Massachusetts.

The flightcrew of the Boeing stated that they had ground personnel assisting with the taxi. As the Boeing began to taxi from the Signature Flight Support ramp, the flightcrew noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing passed the Gulfstream, the flightcrew felt the airplane rock, and the marshaller signaled to stop. The flightcrew stopped the airplane and realized that the left winglet of the Boeing contacted the rudder of the Gulfstream.

The flightcrew of the Gulfstream stated that they were parked at the Signature Flight Support ramp, had just completed the "After Start" checklist, and were about to request taxi clearance. A left yaw was noticed and the copilot saw the Boeing in his rearview mirror.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream for its taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing began to taxi out of the ramp area without ground personnel assisting. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, the ground personnel at the Gulfstream attempted to get the attention of the Boeing flightcrew; however, the left winglet of the Boeing struck the rudder of the Gulfstream. The rudder of the Gulfstream sustained substantial damage.

According to statements from two ground personnel, they were working with other aircraft on the ramp as the Boeing began to taxi toward the Gulfstream. One of the ground personnel was fueling an airplane to the Boeing's right side, and acted as a right wingwalker; however, he could not see the left side of the Boeing. The other ground personnel hurried from the parked Gulfstream to the taxi line in an attempt to assist the Boeing. He first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and struck the Gulfstream.

Review of a surveillance video revealed a person standing near a parked Gulfstream. The Boeing began to taxi near a fence without ground personnel assisting. As the Boeing continued to taxi and approached the parked Gulfstream, the person near the Gulfstream moved quickly to the taxi line ahead of the Boeing. Due to the quality of the video, the person's hand signals could not be verified, and he was beyond the sight of the camera at the time of collision.

The reported weather at EWR, at 1251, was: wind from 320 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 5,000 feet; broken ceiling at 25,000 feet; temperature 45 degrees F.; dew point 12 degrees F.; altimeter 30.03 inches Hg.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N50TC
Reported as
Boeing 737-72T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
29024
Airframe hours
1,560
Engines
General Electric CFM56-7B, 27,300 lbs thrust, turbo fanGeneral Electric CFM56-7B, 27,300 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 125
Registered owner
Tracinda Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
AAIP · March 1, 2005 · 64 hours before
Departed
EWR · Newark, NJ
Destination
VNY · Van Nuys, CA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark Liberty International
Registration
N874C
Reported as
Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1219
Airframe hours
5,313
Engines
Rolls-Royce TAY MK611-8, 13,850 lbs thrust, turbo fanRolls-Royce TAY MK611-8, 13,850 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · December 1, 2004 · 135 hours before
Departed
EWR · Newark, NJ
Destination
BED · Bedford, MA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark Liberty 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 · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N50TC
Age
62
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 1, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
12,607 total · 1,245 in this make and model · 3,520 as pilot in command · 81 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N50TC
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 1, 2005
Seat
Right
Flight hours
10,463 total · 5,701 as pilot in command · 157 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N874C
Age
57
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 1, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
19,320 total · 933 in this make and model · 16,760 as pilot in command · 137 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N874C
Age
49
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 1, 2005
Seat
Right
Flight hours
12,600 total · 1,350 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 130 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
320° at 11 knots, gusting 21
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 12 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
EWR