Boeing 757-231 N518US
6 November 1994 · St Paul, Minnesota, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 6 November 1994 at about 19:05 local time, a Boeing 757-231 registered N518US, operated by Northwest Airlines, was involved in an accident near St Paul, Minnesota, United States. 124 people were on board. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- St Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Nearest airport
- Minneapolis-St Paul Intl (MSP)
- Coordinates
- 44.8807, -93.1992
- Aircraft
- Boeing 757-231
- Registration
- N518US
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Northwest Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Washington
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI95LA031
People
Injuries not recorded.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 123 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF GROUND PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY THE UNSAFE/HAZARDOUS SITUATION REGARDING THE CLOSENESS OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE BAGGAGE CARTS, AND THE CAPTAIN'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION CONCERNING THE SITUATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT AFTER BEING CLEARED TO TAXI FOR DEPARTURE, THE TUG DRIVER PUSHED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO A SPOT CLOSE TO THE GATE. TO CONSERVE FUEL, ONLY THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS STARTED FOR TAXIING. DUE TO THE POSITION OF OTHER AIRCRAFT AND CLOSENESS OF THE GATE, THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO MAKE A 270 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TO TAXI TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE TURN, JET BLAST FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE OVERTURNED THREE BAGGAGE CARTS. ONE OF THE CARTS HIT A GROUND WORKER, WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. THE COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL STATED THAT TAXI THRUST SHOULD BE KEPT BELOW 45% N1. THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER INDICATED THE RIGHT ENGINE N1 PEAKED AT 49.73% AS THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED TO INITIATE THE TURN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Boeing 757 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 1994 | Boeing 757-24APF | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Boeing 757-200 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | America West Airlines, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1993 | Boeing 757-222 | Los Angeles, California, United States | United Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 1993 | Boeing 757-222 | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1993 | Boeing 757-232 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Delta Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1993 | Boeing 757-222 | Denver, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150M | Waseca, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150 | Andover, Minnesota, United States | Flywell Flying Club Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1994 | Cessna 180 | Battle Lake, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1994 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Halstad, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1994 | Smart CP 301 | Remer, Minnesota, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1994 | Inman ACRO SPORT 1 | Albert Lea, Minnesota, United States | John C. Willkomm | Serious injuries | - |