Boeing 737-83N incident near Indianapolis, Indiana, January 16, 2003
On January 16, 2003 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Boeing 737-83N, registered N303TZ, suffered minor damage in an incident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 79 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The ground tow personnel not maintaining clearance from the de-icing vehicle during the tow back to the gate. Factors were the de-icing vehicle that parked by the airplane's left wing, the ground personnel not following the operator's towing procedures/directives.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2003 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Intl · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 79 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-83N · all 737-83Ns on the register
- Registration
- N303TZ · no longer on the register · serial 28648
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained minor damage when it struck a deicing truck as it was being towed back to the gate. No injuries occurred. The operator reported, "The de-ice truck had re-positioned itself off of the left wing and forward, waiting to de-ice another aircraft. The left wing walker left his post upon request of the tug driver to scrape the snow off the lead in line with his boot. The aircraft impacted the de-ice truck, dragging it approximately 15 feet. The truck went up on two wheels and was pinned at a 45-degree angle. The tow was stopped and appropriate calls made." Visibility was 1 and 1/2 statute mile and present weather was light snow and mist. The operator's procedures current at the time of the accident stated, "3. The tow tug operator will: a. Ascertain exactly where the aircraft is to be towed and positioned, and know (or view) the precise route to be taken. ... d. Undertake or continue a towing/pushing procedure only when visual contact with all necessary guidemen is possible. Obstructed vision is the 'signal' to stop and re-establish the necessary guidemen contacts."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,971 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,930 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,076 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 4, 2002; 1,694 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 174,700 lb
- Seats: 185
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM 56-7 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM 57-7 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Trans Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: IND Indianapolis IN at 1:40 pm
- Destination: MDW Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from IND
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 73 |
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.