# NTSB NYC99LA023: McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N997DL, Covington, KY, October 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1998, 18:54 local (22:54 UTC) - Place: Covington, KY - Coordinates: 39.080863, -84.500358 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0809&lon=-84.5004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 121 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45390/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA023 ## Probable cause The tug driver's failure to maintain a proper visual lookout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - vehicle - visual lookout - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) ## Analysis The airplane pushed back from the gate and started to taxi, when the crew saw a baggage tug traveling at a fairly high rate of speed approaching from the right side of the airplane. With the tug driver looking to his right and nowhere else, and without ever slowing down or turning the tug impacted the right side of the airplane causing substantial damage. Two months prior to the accident the tug driver received a total of 30 hours of training. Topics for the training were, ramp and operation self directed training, dangerous goods handling, basic ramp procedures, and driver training. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1998, about 1854 eastern standard time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N997DL, operated by Delta Airlines as Flight 1726, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by a baggage tug while taxiing for takeoff at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky. The 2 flight crewmembers, 5 flight attendants, 114 passengers, and the tug driver were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the scheduled passenger flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. In a written statement, the captain stated that the airplane was taxiing west abeam "B12" and "B10," when he and the first officer saw a "bag tug" approaching. The tug was between the "A" and "B" concourses moving at a fairly high rate of speed, with the driver looking away from the airplane. The captain added that the driver was unaware of the airplane. The captain and first officer then applied maximum braking and the airplane "was almost stopped" when the tug impacted the side of the airplane. According to a passenger, the airplane pushed back from the gate and started to taxi for the runway, when she saw a tug "quickly" approaching from the right. She could also see that the tug driver was looking to his right and nowhere else. She continued, "He never slowed down, never turned. He drove under the plane, right under us, full speed. I thought we crushed him. He reappeared, windows broken, metal superstructure of tug listing and drove rapidly away." The passenger added that, "I think he had earphones on. According to company records, the tug driver received a total of 30 hours of training in the month of August. The training covered, ramp and operation self directed training, dangerous goods handling, basic ramp procedures, and driver training. The tug driver's employment was terminated after the accident and he was not available for comment nor did he submit a statement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N997DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N997DL), registered now, S/N 53364, built 1992 (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: 53364 - Airframe hours: 17620 - Engines: P&W JT8D219 19000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Air Lines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 12, 1998, 12 hours before - Departed: CVG - Destination: CLE, CLEVELAND, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CVG, Cincinnati/North Kentucky ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,225 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CVG 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.