NYC95IA114

NTSB incident investigation · Boeing 767-383ER · Newark, NJ · May 20, 1995

Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal report
Date
May 19, 1995, 20:33 local (May 20, 1995, 00:33 UTC)
Place
Newark, NJ
Injuries
288 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
LNRCKBoeing 767-383ERN13624Boeing 737-500
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Status
Completed · report March 21, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950519012011I
Case key
38873

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.

On this page

Probable cause

the pilot of the B-767, LNRCK, misjudged clearance between his airplane and the B-737, N13624, resulting in an on-ground collision.

the pilot of the B-767, LNRCK, misjudged clearance between his airplane and the B-737, N13624, resulting in an on-ground collision.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Clearance - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Clearance - misjudgedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The B-737, N13624, was parked on taxiway D waiting for departure clearance. The B-767, LNRCK, was behind the B-737 but had received it's departure clearance first. The B-767 was instructed by ATC to taxi past the B-737 and to the active runway. In the process of doing this maneuver, the left wing tip of the B-767 impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the B-737. According to the B-737 captain the configuration of the airplane at the time of impact was, '...On [the] taxiway centerline, parking brake set, #1 engine running only (due to atc delays), and apu running.' After impact the B-737 captain shut down the engine and the auxillary power unit. There were no fuel leaks, and neither airplane required evacuation of the passengers. The B-767 flightcrew did not provide an account of the accident, despite several requests.

The B-737, N13624, was parked on taxiway D waiting for departure clearance. The B-767, LNRCK, was behind the B-737 but had received its departure clearance first. The B-767 was instructed by ATC to taxi past the B-737 and to the active runway. In the process of doing this maneuver, the left wing tip of the B-767 impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the B-737. According to the B-737 captain the configuration of the airplane at the time of impact was, '...On [the] taxiway centerline, parking brake set, #1 engine running only (due to atc delays), and apu running.' After impact the B-737 captain shut down the engine and the auxillary power unit. There were no fuel leaks, and neither airplane required evacuation of the passengers. The B-767 flightcrew did not provide an account of the accident, despite several requests.

Factual narrative

See narrative for NYC95IA114A.

On May 19, 1995, about 2033 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 767-383ER, LNRCK, operated by Scandinavian Airline System (SAS), as Flight 908 (SK908), collided on the ground with a Boeing 737-500, N13624, operated by Continental Airlines, Inc., as Flight 1439 (CO1419), at the Newark International Airport, Newark, New Jersey. Both airplanes received minor damage, and there were no injuries to the flightcrews or the passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and IFR flight plans had been filed. The flights were being conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.

CO1439, destined for St. Louis, Missouri, was parked on taxiway "D" waiting for departure clearance. SK908, destined for Oslo, Norway, was parked behind CO1439, but had received it's departure clearance first. SK908 was instructed by Newark Control Tower to taxi past CO1439 to the active runway. In the process of accomplishing this maneuver, the left wing tip of the SAS 767-383ER, impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Continental 737-500.

According to the Captain of CO1439, the configuration of the airplane at the time of impact was, "...on taxiway centerline, parking brake set, #1 engine running only (due to ATC delays), and APU running." After impact the Captain shut down the engine and the APU.

There were no fuel leaks, and neither airplane required evacuation of the passengers. Both airplanes were towed back to the gates.

The Newark weather at 2035 was; 13,000 scattered, visibility 20 miles, temperature 59 degrees F, dew point 49 degrees F, wind 310 degrees, 5 knots, altimeter 29.68 inches Hg.

Several attempts were made to get the flight crew's interpretation of the events from SAS, but all the attempts were unsuccessful.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
LNRCK
Reported as
Boeing 767-383ER
Category
Airplane
Airframe hours
19,133
Engine
P&W 4060, 60,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 129
Operator
Scandinavian Airline System, doing business as Sas
Registered owner
Scandinavian Airline System
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · April 28, 1995 · 294 hours before
Departed
EWR
Destination
OSL · Oslo, OF
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark International
Registration
N13624
Reported as
Boeing 737-500
Category
Airplane
Serial number
27528
Airframe hours
502
Engine
GE CFM-56-3-1, 20,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 121
Registered owner
Continental Airlines, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · April 13, 1995 · 104 hours before
Departed
EWR
Destination
STL · St Louis, MO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
EWR · Newark International

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
54
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Role
Pilot, aircraft N13624
Age
40
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Seat
Left
Flight hours
11,500 total · 6,000 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Wind
310° at 5 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
EWR

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.