Hartsfield Atlanta Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30320
Sunday, May 5, 1991 22:18 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A FORD VAN USED FOR BAGGAGE TRANSPORT WAS TRANSITING, AT NIGHT, BETWEEN THE MAIN TERMINAL AND A CONCOURSE. IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ALONG THE DESIGNATED ROADWAY. WHILE CROSSING THE FIRST RAMP AREA AFTER EXITING FROM UNDER THE TERMINAL, THE VAN COLLIDED WITH A MD-88. THE RAMP & ACFT WERE WELL LIT & THE ACFT WAS IN THE CENTER OF ITS ASSIGNED TAXI LANE. THE LEFT MAIN LDG GEAR ROLLED INTO THE REAR OF THE VAN & THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE. THE ACFT WAS EVACUATED VIA EMERGENCY SLIDES WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. THE VAN DRIVER HAD BEEN TRAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA REQUIRED PROCEDURES & WAS AWARE OF CORRECT OPERATING PROCEDURES. HE STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE VAN DRIVER'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND POOR DIVISION OF ATTENTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2218
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30320
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HARTSFIELD ATLANTA INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ATL
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 1020
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2145 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1020
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 900
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None 97
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 824
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45048
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N938DL
NTSB Number ATL91FA090
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model MD-88
Aircraft Series Identifier MD-88
Aircraft Serial Number 49811
Certified Max Gross Weight 149500
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 147
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DELTA AIR LINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30320
Operator Code
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 No
Departure Airport Code SAV
Departure City SAVANNAH
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2055
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 27
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --