Narrative
On December 3, 2008, at approximately 1315 central standard time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50, registration N782NC, operating as Northwest Airlines Flight 1742, was struck by a tug after landing at Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) in Madison, Wisconsin. The aircraft, piloted by an airline transport pilot, had just landed on runway 36. The flight crew subsequently requested a tug to tow the airplane to the gate due to taxiway conditions. The flight, conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121, operated in instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules flight plan. No injuries were reported. The flight originated from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) at 1117, with MSN as the intended destination.
The airplane landed on runway 36 at MSN about 1236. Air traffic control directed the pilot to exit the runway at taxiway A1. The aircraft slowed to a safe taxi speed but missed the taxiway, stopping approximately 6 feet onto the runway overrun area. The pilot contacted ATC and requested permission to execute a 180-degree turn on the overrun. During the turn, the airplane began sliding on snow, and the flight crew stopped the airplane about 90 degrees into the turn, facing west on the paved overrun area. The pilot then contacted ATC and requested a tug to pull the airplane to the gate.
A Northwest Airlines tug was dispatched. An airport snow removal truck spread sand on the area between the nose of the airplane and its left wing. After the tug was attached to the airplane and began moving, the airplane and tug jackknifed and slid on the snow-covered runway. The tug impacted the left side of the airplane's fuselage, causing a puncture to the skin and damage to internal structural members.
Damage and Aftermath
The collision resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The tug was subsequently reconnected, and the airplane was towed to the gate, where passengers deplaned normally.