Boeing 727-232 N489DA
24 May 1995 · West Palm Beach, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 24 May 1995 at about 16:48 local time, a Boeing 727-232 registered N489DA was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. 136 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:48
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palm Beach International (PBI)
- Coordinates
- 26.6496, -80.2509
- Aircraft
- Boeing 727-232
- Registration
- N489DA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 3
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Atlanta
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA95LA135
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 136 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE GROUND PUSHBACK CREW TO FOLLOW DELTA AIRLINES PUSHBACK PROCEDURES AND PLACE A SIGNALMAN FORWARD OF THE AIRCRAFT IN VIEW OF THE CAPTAIN DURING PUSHBACK. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAPTAIN NOT BEING AWARE THAT THE TUG TOW BAR HAD DISCONNECTED AND THE NEED FOR HIM TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE WITH TWO ENGINES OPERATING DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE APU. THE TUG DRIVER WAS ASSISTED BY TWO WING WALKERS. THERE WAS NO SIGNALMAN IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AS REQUIRED BY DELTA AIRLINES PUSHBACK PROCEDURES. AFTER PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT STRAIGHT BACK AND TURNING THE TAIL TO THE LEFT THE TUG WAS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE TUG MOVED FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE NOSE GEAR THE SAFETY PIN ON THE TUG END OF THE TOW BAR SHEERED. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TUG AND ROLLED FORWARD STRIKING THE TUG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED FORWARD THE TUG DRIVER'S HEADSET BECAME DISCONNECT FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE COCKPIT CREW WAS LOST.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Boeing 727 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr 1995 | Boeing 727-276 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1995 | Boeing 727-264 | Orlando, Florida, United States | American Trans Air | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1995 | Boeing 727-257 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Northwest Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 1995 | Boeing 727-232 | Boise, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1995 | Boeing 727-200 | Alma, Georgia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 May 1995 | Boeing 727-227 | Brooksville, Florida, United States | Continental Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1995 | Piper PA-30 | Miami, Florida, United States | Zimetm Malcolm | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1995 | Hughes 500C | Key Largo, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1995 | Cessna R182 | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1995 | Bell 206L | Miami, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1995 | Cessna 177 | Miami, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1995 | Cessna 182Q | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |