Individually Owned: 151,845
Corporate Owned: 143,699
Mitchell International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53154
Tuesady, November 7, 2006 22:00 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
A Boeing 717-200, N904ME, operated as Midwest Airlines flight 157 contacted a Boeing 717-200, N923ME, which was being operated as Midwest Airlines flight 406, during ground operations at the Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Flight 157 was parked at gate D36 prior to the accident and flight 406 was parked next to it at gate D34. Flight 157 was pushed back from the gate and was stopped facing east behind flight 406 and perpendicular to the gates. The captain reported the pushback was normal and the airplane was not positioned any closer to the gates than usual. The captain of flight 406 stated they were ready to push back, but were advised by the tug driver that they could only push back a little because there was an airplane behind them (flight 157). The captain advised the tug driver to push the airplane back as much as possible so they would be credited with an on-time departure. The tug driver for flight 406 stated he could not see flight 157 behind them and as soon as he began moving the airplane both wing walkers gave the "X" signal to stop. He stated the airplane had been pushed back approximately 5-6 feet. One wing walker stated their wands were up in an "X" prior to flight 406 being moved because of the location of flight 157 behind them. The captain stated that after the airplane was pushed back, he set the brakes and they were stationary for 3-5 minutes prior to the impact. The captain of flight 157 stated his airplane was then marshalled forward. As he made a left turn out, they felt a jolt so he stopped the airplane and contacted the ramp personnel to see what happened. He reported the left turn was not sharp. The marshaller for flight 157 stated the airplane moved forward very little if at all prior to starting the left turn. The damage to N904ME, flight 157, consisted of minor damage to the outboard corner of the right side elevator trim tab end cap. Damage to N923ME, flight 406, consisted of substantial damage to the left side elevator and the left side elevator trim tab. Following this accident a red Pushback Clearance Reference Line was painted on the ramp area perpendicular to gates D30-D38. Midwest Airlines then issued a Ramp Training Procedural Communication stating that when an airplane is pushed back from the gate, both main landing gear must be on the alley side of the Pushback Clearance Reference Line at all times. In addition, Midwest Airlines reported they are revising their Company Operations manual to prohibit "Partial Push Backs" for the purpose of recording an on-time departure. The revision will also state that push backs will not be initiated until the area behind and on both sides of the airplane is clear of obstructions so that a complete, uninterrupted push back can be accomplished.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Ground personnel failed to verify the clearance between the airplanes prior to signaling the crew that they were cleared to taxi. A factor associated with the accident was the parked airplane which was contacted.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 11/7/2006 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 2200 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | Milwaukee |
| Event State | WISCONSIN |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 53154 |
| Event Date Year | 2006 |
| Event Date Month | 11 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | Yes |
| Event Location Latitude | 425650N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0875348W |
| Event Location Airport | Mitchell International |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | MKE |
| 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 | 723 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 2152 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | MKE |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 680 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Night/Bright |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 3200 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 800 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Few |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 3 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 9 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 8 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 180 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 5 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.77 |
| 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 | 59 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 22778 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Nov 8 2006 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 20 2007 6:59AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Milwaukee, WI FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
||
|---|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
Aircraft #2 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N904ME | N923ME |
| NTSB Number | CHI07LA021A | CHI07LA021B |
| 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 | No |
| Damage | Minor | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Boeing | Boeing |
| Aircraft Model | 717-200 | 717-200 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 55168 | 55185 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 114000 | 114000 |
| 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 | 94 | 94 |
| Number of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Continuous Airworthiness | Continuous Airworthiness |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 10641 | 4413 |
| ELT Installed | No | No |
| ELT Activated | No | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No | No |
| ELT Type | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | U.S. Bank | US Bank NA Trustree |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1420 Fifth St. | 6744 S. Howell Avenue HQ-14 |
| Aircraft Owner City | Seattle | Oak Creek |
| Aircraft Owner State | WA | WI |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 98101 | 53154 |
| Operator is an individual? | No | No |
| Operator Name | Midwest Airlines, Inc. | Midwest Airlines, Inc. |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No | No |
| Operator Street Address | 6744 South Howell Ave | 6744 South Howell Avenue |
| Operator City | Oak Creek | Oak Creek |
| Operator State | WI | WI |
| Operator Country | USA | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 53154 | 53154 |
| Operator Code | MWEA | MWEA |
| 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 | Domestic | 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 | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | MKE | MKE |
| Departure City | Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Departure State | WI | WI |
| Departure Country | USA | USA |
| Departure Time | -- | -- |
| Departure Time Zone | CST | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | OMA | MCI |
| Destination City | Omaha | Kansas City |
| Destination State | NE | MO |
| Destination Country | USA | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Taxi - to takeoff | Standing - engine(s) not operating |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 29 2007 9:47AM | Nov 29 2007 9:47AM |
| User who most recently changed record | SULP | SULP |
| Since inspection or accident | -- | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA | -- |
| Runway Length | -- | -- |
| Runway Width | -- | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No | No |
| Medical Flight | -- | -- |