Charlotte/Douglas Internationa Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Charlotte, North Carolina 28208
Saturday, June 5, 2010 17:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

An Airbus A330 was standing on taxiway behind other aircraft holding for re-routes due to weather. An air traffic controller asked the flight crew if they could depart off of a different runway and the crew accepted the clearance. The A330 then had to make a left turn onto a different taxiway and the captain asked the first officer if there was adequate clearance from their right wing tip to the tail of the standing A321 ahead. The first officer replied that there was adequate clearance and continued with preparing for takeoff. The flight crew subsequently felt a jolt as the right wing tip of the A330 contacted the rudder of the A321, resulting in minor damage to the wing tip of the A330 and substantial damage to the rudder of the A321.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The Airbus A330 flight crew's failure to maintain clearance from a standing airplane while taxiing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Charlotte
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28208
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 351249N
Event Location Longitude 0805656W
Event Location Airport Charlotte/Douglas Internationa
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CLT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 748
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CLT
Elevation of weather observation facility 748
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 14000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2200
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
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 454
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27896
NTSB Notification Source Aircraft Operator
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2011 2:10PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N277AY N508AY
NTSB Number ERA10LA299A ERA10LA299B
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 AIRBUS INDUSTRIE AIRBUS
Aircraft Model A330-323 A321-231
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 0380 3740
Certified Max Gross Weight 511000 203000
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats 4 4
Cabin Crew Seats 14 7
Passenger Seats 293 183
Total number of seats on the aircraft 379 379
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP AAIP
Date of Last Inspection -- Jun 5 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- 6077
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name US AIRWAYS INC US AIRWAYS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 111 W RIO SALADO PKWY 111 W RIO SALADO PKWY
Aircraft Owner City TEMPE TEMPE
Aircraft Owner State AZ AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85281-2880 85281-2880
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name US AIRWAYS INC US AIRWAYS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address 111 W RIO SALADO PKWY 111 W RIO SALADO PKWY
Operator City TEMPE TEMPE
Operator State AZ AZ
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 85281-2880 85281-2880
Operator Code USAA USAA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number USAA105A USAA105A
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code CLT CLT
Departure City Charlotte Charlotte
Departure State NC NC
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone EDT EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code -- SFO
Destination City Frankfurt San Francisco
Destination State -- CA
Destination Country GE USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2011 2:10PM Jan 14 2011 2:10PM
User who most recently changed record kenj kenj
Since inspection or accident -- Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A N/A
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --