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NTSB Report
March 10, 1987 · Boeing 727 · N780AL
Burlington, VT
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 10, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (104 uninjured)
Location
Burlington, VT
Aircraft
Boeing 727
Tail Number
N780AL
Operator
Usair
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC87LA108
IN PREPARATION FOR POWERING AWAY FROM THE GATE, ONE GROUNDMAN WAS STATIONED OFF THE LEFT NOSE OF THE ACFT AND ANOTHER WAS POSITIONED BY THE LEFT WING TIP. THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLES AND INITIATED A RIGHT TURN. THE THROTTLES WERE BROUGHT BACK TO IDLE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT STARTED ROLLING TO PREVENT JET BLAST DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE CPT OF FLT 37, THE SECOND TIME HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW HE SAW A GROUNDMAN GIVING HIM A SIGNAL TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID HITTING THE JETWAY WITH THE LEFT WING TIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE JETWAY HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BOEING 727 TO CLEAR IT.
Full Narrative
IN PREPARATION FOR POWERING AWAY FROM THE GATE, ONE GROUNDMAN WAS STATIONED OFF THE LEFT NOSE OF THE ACFT AND ANOTHER WAS POSITIONED BY THE LEFT WING TIP. THE PLT ADVANCED THE THROTTLES AND INITIATED A RIGHT TURN. THE THROTTLES WERE BROUGHT BACK TO IDLE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT STARTED ROLLING TO PREVENT JET BLAST DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE CPT OF FLT 37, THE SECOND TIME HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW HE SAW A GROUNDMAN GIVING HIM A SIGNAL TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID HITTING THE JETWAY WITH THE LEFT WING TIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE JETWAY HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BOEING 727 TO CLEAR IT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:10 EST
Nearest AirportBurlington (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 727
Tail NumberN780AL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUsair
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-17A · Turbofan
Seats134
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (104 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured104
Total104
Crew 1Age 38 · Unknown
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO