Memphis International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Memphis, Tennessee 38134
Tuesady, January 10, 1995 14:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TUG DURING THE PUSH-BACK FOR TAXI AT MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. PUSH BACK HAD BEGUN WHEN THE GATE AGENT HALTED THE OPERATION TO LOAD LATE ARRIVING PASSENGERS. ACCORDING TO THE TUG DRIVER, WHEN HE APPLIED THE TUG'S BRAKES AFTER REPOSITIONING THE AIRPLANE IN THE GATE AREA, THE AIRPLANE OVER-RAN THE TUG. BOTH ENGINES HAD BEEN STARTED DURING THE PUSH BACK. THE OPERATOR HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ALL FLIGHT CREWS PROHIBITING FORWARD TOWING OF THE AIRPLANE WITH ENGINES OPERATING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IN TOW, AND THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SITUATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MEMPHIS
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38134
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MEM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2051 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 37
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 168
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 11 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1252
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N922VV
NTSB Number ATL95LA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model DC-9-32
Aircraft Series Identifier DC-9-32
Aircraft Serial Number 47489
Certified Max Gross Weight 108000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 119
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Oct 22 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 5187
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VALUJET AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1800 PHOENIX BLVD SUITE 126
Aircraft Owner City COLLEGE PARK
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30349
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code VJ6A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MEM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --