Incident Overview
On June 12, 2021, at 15:00 UTC, during ground movement at Simón Bolívar International Airport, aircraft registered YV2945, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) serial number 49564, owned by Laser Airlines, impacted the horizontal stabilizer of aircraft YV2957, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) serial number 53233, owned by Aeropostal. Both aircraft were in a non-airworthy condition and undergoing maintenance services. No injuries were reported among the occupants, who were maintenance technicians. Both aircraft sustained structural damage.
Investigation Findings
The Junta Investigadora de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC) conducted the preliminary investigation. The aircraft was being moved at the request of Laser Airlines by personnel from AEROSERVICIOS GLECO 904, C.A., a certified airport ground services company. The movement began with sufficient personnel, but according to interviews, minimum communication measures between those involved were not followed.
Investigative activities included organizing a work plan, photographic documentation of the aircraft, reviewing maintenance logs, interviewing involved personnel, and requesting documentation from the ground services company and its staff to verify training.
The investigation noted that the taxi area near the hangars had cracked asphalt without visible markings, potholes, and poor signage. The area was congested with parked aircraft.
Probable Cause
The JIAAC determined that the probable cause of the incident was human factor due to inadequate procedure in the movement of the aircraft by personnel of AEROSERVICIOS GLECO 904, specifically the failure to use proper communication methods. Contributing factors included the absence of communication equipment, lack of procedures for maneuvers in confined areas, overcrowding of parked aircraft, poor signage of parking areas near the hangars, and asphalt deterioration in the maneuvering area.