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Accidents · NTSB CEN09LA114 · Final report

Boeing 747-212B accident near Rockford, Illinois, December 23, 2008

On December 23, 2008 at about 7:02 am local time, a Boeing 747-212B, registered N486EV, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Rockford, Illinois (Rockford International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The ground crew's failure to maintain clearance from the light pole while directing the airplane to parking.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
December 23, 2008 · about 7:02 am local time · cases in 2008
Place
Rockford, Illinois · Rockford International · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Boeing 747-212B · all 747-212Bs on the register
Registration
N486EV · no longer on the register · serial 20888
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The airplane was taxiing to the parking area when the right wing tip struck a light pole. The taxiway markings on the ramp were obscured by snow, and the airplane was being guided by ground handlers, including a wing-walker positioned at the right wing tip. The taxi speed was low due to the snow cover and positive contact with the ground handlers was maintained by the flight crew. The flight crew did not feel the impact with the light pole and were not aware of the accident until notified by company maintenance personnel after parking.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Taxiing › Incorrect use/operation
  • cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Ground crew
  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Response/compensation

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 4,452 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: October 10, 2008
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Co-pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,361 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: March 21, 2008
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: no injuries

Flight Engineer

  • Seat: ctr
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
  • Maximum gross weight: 833,000 lb
  • Seats: 11
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine 1: General Electric CF-6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 2: General Electric CF-6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 3: General Electric CF-6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Engine 4: General Electric CF-6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Evergreen International Airlines INC

The flight

  • Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 4:20 am
  • Destination: RFD Rockford IL
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: night
  • Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,200 ft
  • Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
  • Observation at 6:54 am from RFD

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew3

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 18, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 PDF, 9 pages View Download
2 Pilot Irregularity Report PDF, 1 page View Download

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN09LA114.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.