- Date
- June 16, 1990, 19:36 local (23:36 UTC)
- Place
- Jamaica, NY
- Injuries
- 133 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- IDEMCBoeing 747-230N458USFokker FK-28-1000
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 36663
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The Boeing 747 captain misjudged clearance between his aircraft and the fokker f.28. A factor related to the accident was: self-induced pressure of the Boeing 747 captain.
The Boeing 747 captain misjudged clearance between his aircraft and the fokker f.28. A factor related to the accident was: self-induced pressure of the Boeing 747 captain.
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.
Analysis
A Boeing 747-230 (alitalia flt 608, reg no: i-demc) was in a right turn as its crew tried to pass behind a stopped fokker f.28 mk 1000 (usair flt 1948, reg no: N458US). As the 747 was turning, its left wing struck the rudder and vertical stabilizer of the fk.28. This resulted in minor damage to the 747 and substantial damage to the f.28. The captain of the 747 said he was 'one hour late and trying to make up time.' He also said, 'it was my fault.'
A Boeing 747-230 (alitalia flt 608, reg no: i-demc) was in a right turn as its crew tried to pass behind a stopped fokker f.28 mk 1000 (usair flt 1948, reg no: N458US). As the 747 was turning, its left wing struck the rudder and vertical stabilizer of the fk.28. This resulted in minor damage to the 747 and substantial damage to the f.28. The captain of the 747 said he was 'one hour late and trying to make up time.' He also said, 'it was my fault.'
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- IDEMC
- Reported as
- Boeing 747-230
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22506
- Engine
- P&W CF6-50E, 52,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Registered owner
- Alitalia Spa
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LIRF · Rome, Italy, OF
- Destination
- JFK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- JFK · John F. Kennedy, runway 31R, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Registration
- N458US
- Reported as
- Fokker FK-28-1000
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce SPEY MK 555, 9,900 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Usair
- Registered owner
- Usair
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- JFK
- Destination
- SYR · Syracuse, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- JFK · John F. Kennedy, runway 31L, 14,572 × 150 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 1
- Age
- 52
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,928 total · 2,178 in this make and model · 11,783 as pilot in command · 122 in the last 90 days · 59 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N458US
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight engineer, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14,500 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 12,500 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JFK