On June 17, 2006, a Boeing 767-300 (registration N653UA) was involved in an aviation accident near Dulles, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The driver's failure to follow company standard operating procedures. A factor was the driver's diverted attention to an on-time departure. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A baggage cart attached to a tractor struck the underside of an aircraft fuselage while the driver attempted to cross under the aircraft to deliver hand wands. The driver later stated he forgot the cart was attached.
Incident Details
The aircraft was positioned at the gate with the crew and passengers onboard. The parking brake was set, and the loading bridge had been retracted. A ramp employee was operating a tractor with a baggage cart in tow on the left side of the aircraft when a pushback guideman on the right side signaled that he needed hand wands for the pushback. Forgetting the baggage cart was attached, the driver drove the tractor under the fuselage to reach the guideman. During this maneuver, the baggage cart impacted the underside of the fuselage approximately 25 feet aft of the nose and 17 feet forward of the wings.
Driver Statement
The driver subsequently stated to company officials that he did not follow standard operating procedures when he drove under the fuselage. He indicated that while trying to ensure an on-time departure, he forgot the baggage cart was attached to the tractor. The driver was current on all required training.
