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NTSB Report
December 8, 1992 · Boeing 737-300LR · N516AU
Flushing, NY
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 8, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (59 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Flushing, NY
Aircraft
Boeing 737-300LR
Tail Number
N516AU
Operator
Usair
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
NYC93LA040
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.
NTSB 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.
Full Narrative
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.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:02 EST
Nearest AirportLa Guardia (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 737-300LR
Tail NumberN516AU
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorUsair
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsCfm · 56-3-B2 · Turbofan · 22000
Seats130
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (59 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured59
Total60
Crew 1Age 45 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 14 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 23 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:00
Weather SourceWFAC