Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: , A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-51, N776NC, OPERATED BY NORTHWEST AIRL

Report Date: 09/17

Plane Crash Problem: On September 12, 2003, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51, N776NC, operated by Northwest Airlines as flight 1569, received minor damage when it was struck by a tug while standing, at the Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia. The 2 flightcrew members, 3 flight attendants, and 36 passengers were not injured; however, the tug driver was fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that was destined for the Memphis International Airport (MEM), Memphis, Tennessee. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to the captain of flight 1569, the airplane was standing at Gate 30, with passenger boarding still in progress. After completing the preflight checklist, the flightcrew felt a "thump" under the airplane. Since no communication had been established with the ground crew, the pilot sent the first officer outside to assess if there was any damage to the airplane. The first officer observed that the pushback tug had struck the radome, and that the driver of the tug was trapped between the tug and the airplane. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the tug was not connected up to the tow bar, and the parking brake was not set. The Inspector additionally stated that the tug driver was trained, and qualified, to operate the tug and to perform pushback duties. According to a representative of the airline, the tug was inspected after the accident. No anomalies were noted with the operation of the tug.

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