Narrative:
With an expected 20 to 25 minute hold time before departure, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and ground clearance was given for the flight crew to taxi to a hold area to wait. While positioning in the hold area, the airplane's right wing impacted a light pole. The passengers were deplaned via air stairs and no injuries occurred. An examination of the right wing by maintenance personnel revealed that the right wing spar had sustained substantial damage. The captain, who was at the controls, reported that he had not seen the light pole before impact. The first officer reported looking up and seeing the light pole; however, he observed that the captain was turning away from the pole before the impact. It was further reported that there was no pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane's flight controls.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crews failure to maintain clearance from the light pole while taxiing."
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 13 June 2013 |
| Time: | 10:40 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas MD-88 |
| Operator: | Delta Air Lines |
| Registration: | N995DL |
| MSN: | 53362/1955 |
| First flight: | 1992 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 56640 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 149 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 156 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA/KBNA), United States of America |
| Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA (ATL/KATL), United States of America |
With an expected 20 to 25 minute hold time before departure, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and ground clearance was given for the flight crew to taxi to a hold area to wait. While positioning in the hold area, the airplane's right wing impacted a light pole. The passengers were deplaned via air stairs and no injuries occurred. An examination of the right wing by maintenance personnel revealed that the right wing spar had sustained substantial damage. The captain, who was at the controls, reported that he had not seen the light pole before impact. The first officer reported looking up and seeing the light pole; however, he observed that the captain was turning away from the pole before the impact. It was further reported that there was no pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane's flight controls.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crews failure to maintain clearance from the light pole while taxiing."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Collision with pole or wiresDamaged on the ground
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Nashville International Airport, TN to Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA as the crow flies is 342 km (214 miles).
Distance from Nashville International Airport, TN to Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA as the crow flies is 342 km (214 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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