Miami International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33029
Sunday, December 14, 2003 19:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the pushback from the gate, the tug operator attempted to stop the airplane on the ramp. At the time of pushback operations the ramp surface was wet and the lighting condition on the ramp was dark. The tug slid to the left as the airplane went to the right for undetermined reasons. The shear pin on the tow bar broke and the airplane turned to the right. The tug collided with the right side of the fuselage after the tug driver jumped from the tug. Examination of the airplane revealed 9 damaged ribs on the bottom side of the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The tug operator's loss of control and his failure to maintain clearance from the aircraft during pushback operations.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1955
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Miami
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33029
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 254759N
Event Location Longitude 0801742W
Event Location Airport Miami International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MIA
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 11
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 8
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 13000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 44
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16462
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 14 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2244
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Miami FSDO-19

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N445AW
NTSB Number ATL04LA053
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 Canadair
Aircraft Model CL-600-2B19
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7804
Certified Max Gross Weight 53000
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 54
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR WISCONSIN AIRLINES CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address W 6390 Challenger Drive Suite 203
Aircraft Owner City Appleton
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54914
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 A6WA
Owner has at least one certificate --
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 MIA
Departure City Miami
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1825
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TPA
Destination City Tampa
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - pushback/tow
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 2 2004 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
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 --