# NTSB NYC89IA028: Boeing 727-227, N555PE, Boston, MA, November 14, 1988 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 13, 1988, 20:12 local (Nov 14, 1988, 01:12 UTC) - Place: Boston, MA - Location: 42.3629° N, 71.0064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (BOS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3629&lon=-71.0064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 144 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36303/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA028 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO DETECT THE RED T ON THE DEPARTURE STRIP ON PRE659 WHEN HE CLEARED HIM INTO POSITION AND HOLD. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE LACK OF POSITIVE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE GROUND CONTROLLER AND LOCAL CONTROLLER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Near collision between aircraft, takeoff - roll/run - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual/aural perception (contributing factor) - Near collision between aircraft, takeoff - roll/run - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - visual/aural perception (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE TOWER CONTROLLER CLEARED PAN AM FLT 543 (BOEING 727, N555PE) INTO POSITION & HOLD ON RWY 22R, THEN HE CLEARED THE 727 FOR TAKEOFF. THE CONTROLLER THEN CLEARED PRECISION FLT 649 (DORNIER DO-228, N238RP) INTO POSITION & HOLD ON RUNWAY 22R. THE CONTROLLER DID NOT REALIZE THE DORNIER WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, 4200 FT DOWN THE RUNWAY, RATHER THAN AT THE APPROACH END. HE HAD FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE TAKEOFF STRIP WAS MARKED WITH A RED 'T' INDICATING AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF. ALSO, THE GROUND CONTROLLER DID NOT ADEQUATELY COORDINATE WITH THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, WHEN HE CLEARED THE DORNIER TO TAXI TO THE INTERSECTION FOR AN INTERSECTION DEPARTURE. THE 727 FLIGHT CREW SAW THE DORNIER ON THE RUNWAY & MADE AN EARLY ROTATION, MISSING THE DORNIER. THERE WAS NO CONTACT BETWEEN AIRCRAFT OR INJURIES. THE 727 FLT CREW RETURNED FOR A LANDING TO CHECK THE ENGINES, WHICH HAD BEEN OVERBOOSTED AFTER MAXIMUM POWER WAS APPLIED TO CLEAR THE DORNIER. THE DORNIER WAS TAXIED CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY & BACK TO THE RAMP TO ASSURE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N555PE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOEING 727-227 - Category: Airplane - Airframe hours: 36075 - Engines: P&W JT8D-7A 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Pan American World Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BOS - Destination: LGA, FLUSHING, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOS, Boston, runway 222, 7,860 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N238RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N238RP-1995-10-20), registration cancelled 1995-10-20, S/N 8138 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DORNIER DO-228-202 - Registry model: [Dornier DORNIER 228-202](https://openairdocs.org/model/dornier-dornier-228-202) (registry code 2992030) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8138 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Precision Valley Aviation, Inc, doing business as Precision Airlines - Registered owner: State Street Bank & Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 12, 1988, 5 hours before - Departed: BOS, BOSTON, MA - Destination: ISP, ISLIP, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOS, Boston, runway 22, 7,860 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N555PE; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 3,425 total, 1,605 as pilot in command, 167 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N238RP; age 28; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,562 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 4,112 as pilot in command, 241 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BOS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19881113067679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881113067679I), Nov 13, 1988: Boeing 727227, Boston, MA, Minor damage. 555PE cleared for takeoff was behind other planes holding on runway at intersection. Averted collision and returned 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.