Hartsfield Atl. Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30320
Monday, September 7, 1987 20:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS STRUCK BY AN EASTBOUND, AIRLINE EMPLOYEE BUS WHILE TAXIING SOUTH ON THE RAMP TO THE ASSIGNED GATE. THE BUS IMPACTED THE ACFT RT WING TIP. A PAX IN THE BUS REPORTED THAT SHE WARNED THE BUS DRIVER TO WATCH OUT FOR THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, BUT THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO LOOK STRAIGHT AND MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER THE PAX WARNED THE DRIVER A SECOND TIME, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE BUS TO A STOP AND AVOID THE COLLISION. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE NAVIGATION AND ROTATING BEACON WERE ON THE ENTIRE TIME. ACCORDING TO ARPT GROUND TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS, AIRCRAFT HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OVER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AT ALL TIMES,

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2025
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30320
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HARTSFIELD ATL. INT'L
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 1026
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1952 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 19
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1961
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 7 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35390
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N407MX
NTSB Number ATL87FA250
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BRITISH AEROSPACE
Aircraft Model 3101
Aircraft Series Identifier 3101
Aircraft Serial Number 636
Certified Max Gross Weight 15212
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 21
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 6971
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name METRO EXPRESS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 77 MAIN ST.
Aircraft Owner City HARTFORD
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06115
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name METRO EXPRESS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1895 PHOENIX BLVD.
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30320
Operator Code EMXA
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 CHA
Departure City CHATTANOOGA
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --