Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 13 January 2008
Aircraft Type: Bombardier CRJ-701ER
Owner/operator: SkyWest Airlines
Registration Number: N705SK
Location: San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Pushback / towing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 59
Component Affected: The aircraft’s pushback operation, specifically the lack of wing/tail walkers.The aircraft’s pushback operation, specifically the lack of wing/tail walkers.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A Skywest CRJ-701ER experienced significant damage after colliding with a United Airlines Boeing 757-222. The collision was likely caused by a failure by the tug operator of the other aircraft to maintain proper clearance, compounded by a ground controller?s failure to alert the pilot to the simultaneous pushback from adjacent gates. The lack of wing/tail walkers during the pushback operation also contributed to the incident.A Skywest CRJ-701ER experienced significant damage after colliding with a United Airlines Boeing 757-222. The collision was likely caused by a failure by the tug operator of the other aircraft to maintain proper clearance, compounded by a ground controller?s failure to alert the pilot to the simultaneous pushback from adjacent gates. The lack of wing/tail walkers during the pushback operation also contributed to the incident.
Description
Skywest flight 6398, a Bombardier CRJ-701ER (N705SK) sustained substantial damage after being struck by a Boeing 757-222, N508UA,operated by United Airlines that was being towed by company maintenance personnel. Probable Cause: The company tug operator of the other airplane’s failure to maintain clearance with this aircraft during the pushback process. Also causal was the ground controller’s failure to alert the pilot of this aircraft and tug operator of the other airplane of the simultaneous pushback occurring from adjacent gates. Contributing to the accident was the company’s pushback operation without the use of wing/tail walkers.
Primary Cause
Failure by the tug operator to maintain clearance with the aircraft during the pushback process.Failure by the tug operator to maintain clearance with the aircraft during the pushback process.Share on:
