Indianapolis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indianapolis, Indiana 46241
Friday, January 25, 1991 7:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AMERICAN FLIGHT 323 (AA323) TAXIED TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RUNWAY 23R. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT A STATIC/PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM PROBLEM THE CREW PERFORMED A POWER RUN-UP. THE JET BLAST CONTACTED AND MOVED A NORTHWEST DC9 (NW878) WHICH WAS PARKED AT GATE A7, BEHIND AND PERPENDICULAR TO AA323. THE MOVEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE RESULTED IN AN EXTERNAL HEATER HOSE DISCONNECTING FROM THE AIRPLANE. A 15 LB METAL COUPLING ON THE END OF THE HOSE STRUCK A MECHANIC WHEN IT DISCONNECTED. THE MECHANIC WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH INTERNAL INJURIES. THE CREW OF AA323 REPORTED BEING UNAWARE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF NW878. AA323 DID NOT REQUEST OR OBTAIN A CLEARANCE TO PERFORM THE RUN-UP IN THE UNAUTHORIZED AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE PROPER PROCEDURES AND THE IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/25/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City INDIANAPOLIS
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46241
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport INDIANAPOLIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IND
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 92
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43035
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N815AA
NTSB Number CHI91LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 727-200
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-200
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 142000
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 --
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERICAN AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 619616
Operator City DFW AIRPORT
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75261
Operator Code AALA
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/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DFW
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --