McDonnell Douglas MD-88 N938DL
6 May 1991 · Atlanta, Georgia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 6 May 1991 at about 02:18 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 registered N938DL, operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia, United States. 102 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:18
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hartsfield Atlanta Intl (ATL)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas MD-88
- Registration
- N938DL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Savannah → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ATL91FA090
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 97 |
Probable cause
THE VAN DRIVER'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND POOR DIVISION OF ATTENTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A FORD VAN USED FOR BAGGAGE TRANSPORT WAS TRANSITING, AT NIGHT, BETWEEN THE MAIN TERMINAL AND A CONCOURSE. IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ALONG THE DESIGNATED ROADWAY. WHILE CROSSING THE FIRST RAMP AREA AFTER EXITING FROM UNDER THE TERMINAL, THE VAN COLLIDED WITH A MD-88. THE RAMP & ACFT WERE WELL LIT & THE ACFT WAS IN THE CENTER OF ITS ASSIGNED TAXI LANE. THE LEFT MAIN LDG GEAR ROLLED INTO THE REAR OF THE VAN & THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE. THE ACFT WAS EVACUATED VIA EMERGENCY SLIDES WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. THE VAN DRIVER HAD BEEN TRAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA REQUIRED PROCEDURES & WAS AWARE OF CORRECT OPERATING PROCEDURES. HE STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other McDonnell Douglas MD-88 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Nov 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1992 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | Delta Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1993 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Charleston, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1988 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Pensacola, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1995 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Monroe, Louisiana, United States | Delta Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Feb 1996 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Delta Air Lines | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1991 | Bell 47D-1 | Rome, Georgia, United States | Silver Hawk Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jan 1991 | Cessna 310 | Brunswick, Georgia, United States | Fosmire, William L | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Cordele, Georgia, United States | Carter, Richard C. | Fatal | 3 |
| 14 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-34-220T | Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States | Kirk Rudy, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1991 | Cessna T37B | Chickamauga, Georgia, United States | Brady, David F. | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jun 1991 | Cessna 150J | Monroe, Georgia, United States | Rutledge, JOE R. | Fatal | 1 |