Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 30 October 1988
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Owner/operator: Northwest Airlines
Registration Number: N918RW
Location: Memphis, TN – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 42
Component Affected: Wingtip of the ACFTWingtip of the ACFT
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An ACFT was being taxedied to the gate when its right wingtip struck a catering truck that had been driven off the designated driving lanes and partially onto the taxiway. The flight crew reported that the truck was traveling in the same direction within the designated driving lanes when they last observed it. Shortly after the cockpit area of the ACFT passed the truck, they felt an impact. Witnesses reported the truck leaving the driving lanes as the driver was maneuvering around other ground vehicles that were obstructing the driving lanes.An ACFT was being taxedied to the gate when its right wingtip struck a catering truck that had been driven off the designated driving lanes and partially onto the taxiway. The flight crew reported that the truck was traveling in the same direction within the designated driving lanes when they last observed it. Shortly after the cockpit area of the ACFT passed the truck, they felt an impact. Witnesses reported the truck leaving the driving lanes as the driver was maneuvering around other ground vehicles that were obstructing the driving lanes.

Description

THE ACFT WAS BEING TAXIED TO THE GATE WHEN ITS RIGHT WINGTIP STRUCK A CATERING TRUCK THAT HAD BEEN DRIVEN OFF OF THE DESIGNATED DRIVING LANES & PARTIALLY ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE FLT CREW RPRTD THAT THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION WITHIN THE DESIGNATED DRIVING LANES WHEN THEY LAST OBSERVED IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE COCKPIT AREA OF THE ACFT PASSED THE TRUCK, THEY FELT AN IMPACT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE TRUCK LEFT THE DRIVING LANES AS THE DRIVER WAS MANEUVERING AROUND OTHER GROUND VEHICLES THAT WERE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVING LANES. FAA & ARPT RULES REQUIRED THAT VEHICLES DRIVERS OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE TOWER BEFORE CROSSING OR OPERATING ON RUNWAYS OR TAXIWAYS. ALSO, ARPT RULES STATED THAT VEHICLE DRIVERS SHALL YIELD TO TAXIING ACFT. Probable Cause:

Primary Cause

Driver’s error/Improper lane usage.Driver’s error/Improper lane usage.

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