Portland International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Portland, Oregon 97218
Monday, August 29, 2005 14:09 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Airbus was taxiing east via Taxiway B to runway 28L for departure. The Bombardier had landed, taxied to the gate area, and was stopped on the ramp located north of Taxiway B waiting to be marshaled to its parking spot. The Bombardier was sitting on a northerly heading, oriented perpendicular to Taxiway B with its tail towards the taxiway. The captain and augmenting captain of the Airbus visually checked for clearance between their left wingtip and the tail of the Bombardier and decided that there was adequate clearance. However, as the Airbus passed behind the Bombardier, the left wingtip of the Airbus struck the tail of the Bombardier. The left winglet of the Airbus was scraped, bent and cracked. The vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer, both elevators, and the rudder of the Bombardier sustained structural damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the flight crew to maintain adequate clearance while taxiing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1409
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Portland
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97218
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 453519N
Event Location Longitude 1223551W
Event Location Airport Portland International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PDX
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 30
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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 270
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19431
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, OR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N855NW N363PH
NTSB Number SEA05LA184A SEA05LA184B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No Yes
Damage Minor Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Airbus Industrie Bombardier, Inc.
Aircraft Model A330-223 DHC-8-202
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 0621 520
Certified Max Gross Weight 513000 36500
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 259 40
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection -- Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0 55
Airframe Hours 4125 16229
ELT Installed No Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Northwest Airlines Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5101 Northwest Egan Drive 299 S Main St. MAC U1228-120
Aircraft Owner City Eagan Salt Lake City
Aircraft Owner State MN UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55111 84111
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- Horizon Air
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Street Address -- 8070 NE Airtrans Way
Operator City -- Portland
Operator State -- OR
Operator Country -- USA
Operator Zip code -- 97218
Operator Code NWAA QXEA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) -- --
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes No
Departure Airport Code PDX MFR
Departure City Portland Medford
Departure State OR OR
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- 1305
Departure Time Zone PDT PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt -- crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NRT PDX
Destination City Narita Portland
Destination State -- OR
Destination Country JA USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - to takeoff Standing - engine(s) operating
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 13 2006 2:03PM Jan 13 2006 2:03PM
User who most recently changed record STAM STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA NA
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --