Boeing 737 N972AN

Summary

On 4 October 2003 at about 18:50 local time, a Boeing 737 registered N972AN was involved in an accident near Boston, Massachusetts, United States. 76 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 2003 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Boston (BOS)

Coordinates

42.3642, -71.0050

Aircraft

Boeing 737

Registration

N972AN

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boston → Chicago O'Hare

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04CA003

Nobody was injured.

The collision of a ground support vehicle with a parked aircraft, due to the faulty gearshift lever on the ground support vehicle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A mechanic had parked a ground support van outside the baggage area under Gate 26, and exited the van. When he returned to the van several minutes later, it had rolled backwards and impacted a parked aircraft. Examination of the van revealed the gearshift lever was faulty, and when the 'park' detent was selected, the van was actually in 'reverse'. The operator's fleet of ground support vehicles was examined for additional faulty gearshift levers, and one vehicle was identified and removed from service. Examination of the airplane revealed a 10-inch hole, with a larger dented area in the fuselage pressure bulkhead, located on the left side of the airplane, midway between the left engine and the L1 door.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.