# NTSB NYC99LA022: McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N919DL, Covington, KY, November 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 1998, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Covington, KY - Coordinates: 39.079662, -84.500312 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0797&lon=-84.5003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 112 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45275 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45275/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA022 ## Probable cause The driver's failure to maintain control of the belt loader. A factor in the accident was the precipitation which may have contributed to the driver's foot slipping off the brake and onto the accelerator, as he approached the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor) - equipment,other - uncontrolled, ground personnel (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was chalked at terminal gate with ground power applied. The ground crew then initiated the 'off loading' process. A ground crewmember who was operating a belt loader approached the airplane and as the belt loader approached the 'C1' door, it began to slow down. The belt loader then accelerated forward, struck the airplane and pinned the driver between the seat back of the belt loader and the airplane's fuselage. The driver of the belt load stated his foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator. Examination of the belt loader did not revealed any mechanical malfunctions. Light rain was falling at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 1998, about 1545 eastern standard time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N919DL, operated by Delta Airlines as Flight 1889, sustained minor damage when it was struck by a company baggage loader while parked at a terminal gate at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky. The 5 crewmembers and the 107 passengers who were deplaning at the time of the impact were not injured. The driver of the baggage loader was seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Grand Rapids, Michigan, destined for CVG. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to representatives from Delta Airlines, after the airplane was chalked at terminal gate B-23, and ground power was applied to the airplane, the ground crew initiated the "off loading" process. The ground crewmember who was injured was operating a belt loader. He stopped about 10 to 12 feet from the airplane to raise the belt loader's conveyor belt and then proceeded towards the airplane. As the belt loader approached the "C1" door, it began to slow down. The belt loader then accelerated forward, struck the airplane and pinned the driver between the seat back of the belt loader and the airplane's fuselage. In a telephone interview, the driver of the belt loader stated his foot slipped off the brake onto the accelerator, as he approached the airplane. The belt loader accelerated towards the airplane and he thought he might have "froze" for a second or two before the impact. He had no further memory of the accident; however, he stated that he had worked as a ramp agent for the past 13 years, and had operated a belt loader several times before the accident. He also remembered light rain was falling at the time of the accident. Examination of the belt loader by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not revealed any mechanical malfunctions. Two antennas were damaged on the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N919DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N919DL-2019-01-14), registration cancelled 2019-01-14, S/N 49584, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88) (registry code 3023688) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 49584 - Engines: P&W JT8D 7700 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Destination: CVG - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CVG, Cincinnati/No. Kentucky ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; 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: 17,000 total, 1,432 in this make and model, 108 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CVG ## 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 19981103034889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981103034889A), Nov 3, 1998: Doug MD88, Covington/Cinci, KY, Minor damage. (-23) Beltloader collided with aircraft while positioning to unload. Operator sustained serious injuries. Aircraft sustained minor damage. (.4)the airplane was… 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.