Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30354
Thursday, May 12, 2011 18:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The captain of a B737-800 had taxied to the entry of the assigned parking ramp where he stopped and waited for the ground crew to clear the parking area, post wing walkers, and give him the signal to park. The captain of a B737-700, which was following the B737-800, requested, through the ramp controller, that the stopped airplane move forward so that his airplane could pass. The B737-800 taxied forward and stopped again. The captain of the B737-700 then attempted to pass the B737-800, and the left winglet struck the B737-800’s right elevator, substantially damaging it.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The B737-700 pilot did not maintain adequate wing tip clearance while taxiing around the stopped B-737-800.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/2011
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1805
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Atlanta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30354
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 333812N
Event Location Longitude 0842541W
Event Location Airport Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ATL
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 1026
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1852 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
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 298
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29472
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 29 2011 5:23PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N308DE N378DA
NTSB Number ERA11CA296A ERA11CA296B
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? Yes Yes
Damage Minor Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING BOEING
Aircraft Model 737-732 737-832
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 29656 30265
Certified Max Gross Weight 154500 172500
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats 3 3
Cabin Crew Seats 4 5
Passenger Seats 124 160
Total number of seats on the aircraft 131 189
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP AAIP
Date of Last Inspection May 10 2011 12:00AM May 10 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 5497 36281
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type Unknown Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name DELTA AIRLINES INC DELTA AIR LINES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address ATTN TREASURER DEPT 856 HARTSFIELD ATLANTA INTL ARPT
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30354-1989 30320
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name DELTA AIRLINES INC DELTA AIR LINES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address ATTN TREASURER DEPT 856 HARTSFIELD ATLANTA INTL ARPT
Operator City ATLANTA ATLANTA
Operator State GA GA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 30354-1989 30320
Operator Code DALA DALA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? Yes No
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 International
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 No No
Departure Airport Code TGU SDQ
Departure City Tegucigalpa Santo Domingo
Departure State -- --
Departure Country HO DR
Departure Time 1306 1458
Departure Time Zone EDT EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ATL ATL
Destination City Atlanta Atlanta
Destination State GA GA
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 29 2011 5:23PM Apr 11 2012 8:31AM
User who most recently changed record gots broda
Since inspection or accident Time of 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 -- --