# NTSB NYC87LA108: Boeing 727, N780AL, Burlington, VT, March 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1987, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, VT
- Location: 44.4720° N, 73.1533° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PATRICK LEAHY BURLINGTON INTL (BTV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4720&lon=-73.1533&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 104 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA108

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - pushback/tow
  - equipment,other - conflicting, ground personnel (cause)
  - object - airport facility (contributing factor)
  - proper assistance - not performed, ground personnel (cause)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not issued, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

IN PREPARATION FOR POWERING AWAY FROM THE GATE, ONE GROUNDMAN WAS STATIONED OFF THE LEFT NOSE OF THE ACFT AND ANOTHER WAS POSITIONED BY THE LEFT WING TIP. THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLES AND INITIATED A RIGHT TURN. THE THROTTLES WERE BROUGHT BACK TO IDLE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT STARTED ROLLING TO PREVENT JET BLAST DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE CPT OF FLT 37, THE SECOND TIME HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW HE SAW A GROUNDMAN GIVING HIM A SIGNAL TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID HITTING THE JETWAY WITH THE LEFT WING TIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE JETWAY HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BOEING 727 TO CLEAR IT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N780AL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21999
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17A turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Usair
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BVT, BURLINGTON, VT
- Destination: SAN FRANCISCO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BTV, Burlington

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,150 total, 5,250 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19870310008029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870310008029A), Mar 10, 1987: Boeing 727227, Burlington, VT, Substantial damage. Jets left wing struck a improperly parked jetway on power out. Pilot and ground crew failed to assure clearance.

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.

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