Dallas-Fort Worth Int'l. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Southlake, Texas 760929200
Sunday, February 20, 2011 19:24 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Boeing 737-823 was being pushed back from its gate when the tow bar separated from the nose gear. The airplane rolled backwards and the right wing tip struck the nose of a parked DC-9. The tractor driver said the tow bar was already attached to the aircraft when he arrived. He said that he attached the other end of the tow bar to the tractor. The driver said that prior to push back, he checked the tow bar and ascertained that the bypass pin was in place and the tow bar wheels were fully retracted. Examination of the tow bar revealed no mechanical failures or abnormalities.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The tractor driver’s failure to confirm that the tow bar head/handle was secured correctly to the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 2/20/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1924
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Southlake
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 760929200
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 325349N
Event Location Longitude 0970217W
Event Location Airport Dallas-Fort Worth Int'l.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DFW
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 607
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 607
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.69
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KDFW 210153Z 17016KT 10SM FEW050 SCT250 22/1
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 145
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28564
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 26 2011 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N945AN
NTSB Number CEN11IA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 737-823
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30085
Certified Max Gross Weight 174200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats 4
Passenger Seats 154
Total number of seats on the aircraft 160
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 Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name American Airlines, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4333 Amon Carter Blvd., # MD5569
Aircraft Owner City Fort Worth
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76155-2605
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name American Airlines, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fort Worth
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76155-2605
Operator Code AALA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 DFW
Departure City Southlake
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1925
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PBI
Destination City Palm Beach
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 21 2011 8:49AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --