# NTSB NYC05LA061: Boeing 737-72T, N50TC, Newark, NJ, March 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 2005, 12:58 local (17:58 UTC) - Place: Newark, NJ - Coordinates: 40.692501, -74.168609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 14 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61196/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA061 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - clearance - misjudged, flightcrew (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - clearance - misjudged, flightcrew of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft moving on ground ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 (aircraft 2) 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. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: N50TC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-72T - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29024 - Airframe hours: 1560 - Engines: General Electric CFM56-7B 27300 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CFM56-7B 27300 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N874C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N874C), registered now, S/N 1219, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV - Registry model: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-g-iv) (registry code 3980115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce TAY-611SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-tay-611ser) (registry code 54561, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1219 - Airframe hours: 5313 - Engines: Rolls-Royce TAY MK611-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls-Royce TAY MK611-8 13850 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N50TC; age 62; injuries: none; 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 - Co-pilot, aircraft N50TC; age 40; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N874C; age 57; injuries: none; 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 - Co-pilot, aircraft N874C; age 49; injuries: none; 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 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.