- Date
- December 8, 1992, 09:02 local (14:02 UTC)
- Place
- Flushing, NY
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 59 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Pushback/towing
- Aircraft
- N516AUBoeing 737-300LR
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921208052639I
- Case key
- 37276
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
A lack of adequate clearance between the walker and tug which resulted in the walker being struck by the tug when he fell for unknown reason(s). A factor related to the accident was the lack of a policy to stay clear of the tug, towbar, and nosewheel of the airplane, while pushback operations are in motion.
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
The B737 was being pushed back using a 2 man ground crew. The tug driver was seated on the left side of the tug. The walker was forward of the tug, on the left side of the airplane, using a 15 ft headset cord which restricted his ability to stay clear of the nosewheel, tug, and towbar. The tug driver said that in his peripheral vision, he saw the walker fall and stopped the tug immediately; however, the tug was not stopped prior to striking the fallen walker who was fatally injured. No witnesses were found who could say why the walker fell. Examination of company procedures revealed they issued a maintenance training bulletin in 12/89. The bulletin referenced a 'requirement' to stay clear of the airplane nosewheel. Although sent to all stations, the bulletin was not mandatory reading and it was not determined if the walker was aware of its content. In addition, the requirements of the bulletin were not implemented into the general maintenance manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N516AU
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-300LR
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23702
- Airframe hours
- 17,594
- Engine
- CFM 56-3-B2, 22,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Usair
- Registered owner
- Usair
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · December 3, 1992 · 43 hours before
- Departed
- KLGA
- Destination
- KTPA · Tampa, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KLGA · La Guardia
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,500 total · 1,360 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 88 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LGA, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.