Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, Delta Air Lines flight 1823, a Boeing 737-800, was instructed by air traffic control to hold short of runway 27 on taxiway D-1. Simultaneously, American Airlines flight 1547, a Boeing 767-200, was instructed to taxi to runway 27 via taxiway D. During the taxi, the right wing tip of the American 767 struck and substantially damaged the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer of the Delta 737.
Pilot Accounts
The flight crew of the Delta 737 reported that the airplane was holding short of the runway 27 hold line with the parking brakes set when they felt a "violent shudder." Upon looking back, they observed the American 767 taxiing past them on taxiway D. The flight crew of the American 767 stated that while the sun created a glare on the airplane's windscreen, they had observed the Delta 737 holding short, and the captain "felt there was more than adequate clearance to continue."
Airport Layout
According to an airport diagram, taxiway D was located on the north side of, and parallel to, runway 27. Taxiway D-1 extended at an angle to the northwest from runway 27 to taxiway D. The perpendicular distance between the taxiway D centerline and the runway 27 hold short line was 220 feet.
Aircraft Dimensions
Dimensional data provided by the manufacturer indicated that the overall wingspan of the Boeing 767-200 was approximately 156 feet 1 inch, and the overall length of the Boeing 737-800 was approximately 124 feet 9 inches.