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NTSB Report

May 13, 1997 · Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 · N984DL

Flushing, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 13, 1997
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 111 uninjured
Location
Flushing, NY
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88
Tail Number
N984DL
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC97LA095

The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 was parked at its gate and boarding passengers. An 18 wheel tractor-trailer had been parked between gates 5 and 6 at LaGuardia Airport, to deliver tires. When the driver of the truck was advised that he would have to move the vehicle due to an airplane inbound for gate 5, he got into the truck and moved it without a ground guide. A witness observed the driver steer the truck cab around which then hit the right wing tip of the MD-88. The airplane pivoted around the main gear which were chocked, and the nose moved approximately 4 1/2 feet to the right, away from the jetway. A passenger was stepping from the jetway into the airplane, when the airplane moved, and the passenger fell 8 feet to the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

The vehicle's driver failure to maintain adequate clearance from and resulted in a collision with a parked aircraft.

Full Narrative

On May 13, 1997, at 1120 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N984DL, operated by Delta Air Lines as Flight 363, sustained minor damage when it was struck by a moving vehicle, while parked and boarding passengers at Gate 3, LaGuardia Airport, Flushing, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot, first officer, 3 flight attendants, and 106 passengers were not injured. One flight attendant and one passenger received minor injuries, while one passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the passenger flight destined for Dallas, Texas. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer, operated by Truck Distribution and Transportation Service Inc., had been parked between gates 5 and 6 at LaGuardia, to deliver tires to Delta Air Lines. When the driver of the truck was advised that he would have to move the vehicle due to an airplane inbound for gate 5, he got into the truck and moved it without a ground guide. According to a witness: "...he just swung the cab around and hit the right wing at the tip. The a/c [airplane] pivoted around the main gear which were chocked, and the nose moved approximately 4 1/2 feet to the right, away from the jetway. The Pax [passenger] was just stepping into the a/c when it moved away causing the Pax to fall to the ground... The passenger fell about 8 feet to the ground, and sustained a fractured right elbow and contusions to his abdominal and pelvic areas.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:20 EDT
Nearest AirportLaguardia (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas MD-88
Tail NumberN984DL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · JT80219 · Turbojet · 19000

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 111 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured111
Total114
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data