Pilot Debrief

BOEING 737 near Fort Lauderdale, FL — 2010-10-29

Final reportERA11LA044
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Date
2010-10-29
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Airport
KFLL
Aircraft
BOEING 737
Registration
C-FWAQ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Ground

Probable cause

The ground service vehicle driver's depressing of the accelerator rather than the brake pedal, resulting in a collision with the airplane.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was parked at the gate and about half of the passengers had deplaned. At that time, a ground service vehicle backed toward the airplane to service the aft lavatory. A guide man signaled the driver to stop the vehicle for a brake check, which he did. The guide man then signaled the driver to resume reversing the vehicle, and subsequently signaled the driver to stop in the service position, located about three feet from the airplane's fuselage. The driver stopped the vehicle; however, before he could put it into park, his foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the accelerator, which resulted in the vehicle further backing into the airplane. During the impact, the airplane incurred a 12-inch by 6-inch tear in the fuselage, which included stringer damage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Driver could have ensured vehicle was in park before signaling to resume backing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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