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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2008 · about 7:02 am local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Rockford International · 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
- 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
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.