Accident · 2003-04-22

NTSB case DEN03FA070 · McDonnell Douglas MD-88 · Part 121

What the record says

Event date: 2003-04-22
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: Minor injury
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 (N974DL)
Operating rule: Part 121
Operator: operator not named in the NTSB record

Probable cause

the flight crew's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in engine start with the throttles advanced and the subsequent impact with the tug. Contributing factors include, the flight crew's improper procedures/directives and failure to re-accomplish the before start checklist, the captain's diverted attention, the manufacturer's inadequate MEL procedures, the manufacturer's insufficiently defined conditions/steps, and the tug.

Source: NTSB case DEN03FA070

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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