Logan International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boston, Massachusetts 02128
Tuesady, June 24, 2003 15:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the airplane was being pushed back from the gate by a tug, the tug began to jackknife and the nose of the airplane came to rest 135 degrees from the heading of the tug. The tug operator could no longer push the airplane and the wing walker, who had been supervising, took over. He put the tug into reverse; however, he failed to straighten the steering wheel. As he moved the accelerator handle, the tug reversed directly into and underneath the airplane, impacting the fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the nose gear and a puncture to the underside of the fuselage, in the pressure vessel area. No mechanical deficiencies were noted with the tug.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The tug driver's failure to maintain directional control of the tug, which caused the tug to impact the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Boston
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02128
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422151N
Event Location Longitude 0710018W
Event Location Airport Logan International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BOS
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 19
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BOS
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 34
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15381
NTSB Notification Source BOS FSFO
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston FSFO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N839AE
NTSB Number NYC03LA135
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Embraer
Aircraft Model EMB-135-KL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 145653
Certified Max Gross Weight 44092
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4333 Amon Carter Blvd # 5494
Aircraft Owner City Fort Worth
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76155
Operator is an individual? No
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 AEAA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BOS
Departure City Boston
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BGR
Destination City Bangor
Destination State ME
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Other
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 15 2004 11:23AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --