Luis Munoz Marin Intl. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Juan
Sunday, March 12, 1995 13:05 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tug operator was cleared by the dispatching agent to commence pushback procedures at a departure gate on a Delta L- 1011. The lead wing walker observed an American SD3-60 taxiing to the ramp and signaled the tug operator to terminate the pushback, which was complied with. The tug operator observed the SD3-60 taxi past the L-1011, and commenced pushback procedures without clearance from the dispatching agent. The right wing tip of the L-1011 collided with the rudder of the SD3-60. Delta Airlines SOP states, the tug operator is responsible for following the signals of the dispatching agent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE TUG OPERATOR TO FOLLOW CORRECT PUSHBACK PROCEDURES BY COMMENCING PUSHBACK WITHOUT CLEARANCE, RESULTING IN AN ON-GROUND COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City SAN JUAN
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00937
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTL.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SJU
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 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1253 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SJU
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 13
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 339
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 47
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2001 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N724DA N376MQ
NTSB Number MIA95LA086A MIA95LA086B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Minor Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LOCKHEED Short Brothers
Aircraft Model L-1011-385 SD3-60
Aircraft Series Identifier L-1011-385 SD3-60
Aircraft Serial Number L1011385115 SH3685
Certified Max Gross Weight 450000 26453
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 305 36
Number of Engines 3 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Feb 17 1995 12:00AM Mar 7 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 217 17
Airframe Hours 58199 16273
ELT Installed Unknown Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name DELTA AIRLINES INC. EXECUTIVE AIRLINES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HARTSFIELD INTL. AIRPORT LMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA SAN JUAN
Aircraft Owner State GA PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30320 00913
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name EXECUTIVE AIRLINES INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No No
Operator Street Address LMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Operator City SAN JUAN
Operator State PR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00913
Operator Code DALA TRBA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes No
Departure Airport Code STT
Departure City ST. THOMAS
Departure State VI
Departure Country
Departure Time 0 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt -- crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM Jan 10 2001 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0 0
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --