Accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 N837AT,

Date:	Sunday 20 January 2002
Time:	07:15
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
Owner/operator:	AirTran Airways
Registration:	N837AT
MSN:	45774/336
Year of manufacture:	1968
Total airframe hrs:	67712 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 66
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC (IAD) - United States of America
Phase:	Pushback / towing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Washington-Dulles International Airport, DC (IAD/KIAD)
Destination airport:	Atlanta-William B. Hartsfield International Airport, GA (ATL/KATL)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N837AT, operated by Air Tran Airways as flight 67, was substantially damaged during pushback at Washington-Dulles International Airport, Virginia. There were no injuries.
The flight was destined for Atlanta, Georgia. According to the captain, the ramp was covered with snow and ice, and their gate position required a pushback with a nose swing of about 120 degrees. The airplane had an inoperative APU, and he elected to start both engines at the gate prior to pushback because a single engine crossbleed start would require an N1 of 80 percent on the operative engine. After both engines were started, the pushback was initiated. As the tug neared a 90 degree position to the right side of the nose of the airplane, it started to move forward, and then stopped when it struck the tug, after which the captain set the brakes. The captain added that he had not applied the brakes until after the airplane came to rest.
The tug driver reported that he had already pushed back two airplanes that morning with no problems, and that the initial part of the push was without incident. As the airplane entered an area where the ramp was icy, he turned the nose of the airplane to the west. The nosewheels on the airplane started slipping, and he was unable to communicate this to the cockpit crew. He stopped the tug and the airplane slid into the tug.
Damage to the airplane consisted of a hole in the right side of the fuselage, located about 3 feet below the bottom of the forward, right side cabin door, and about 4 feet behind the trailing edge of the door. Internally, there was damage to the longerons.

The lack of direction from the operator on how to perform pushbacks on an icy ramp, which led to the tug driver positioning the tug at an angle to the nose of the airplane that allowed the airplane to move forward and strike the tug. Factors were the inadequate visual lookout by the walker wearing the headset, and the icy ramp.

Accident investigation: