Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation MD 88 accident near Newark, New Jersey, January 24, 2016
On January 24, 2016 at about 10:22 pm local time, a 1992 Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation MD 88, registered N908DE, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Liberty International A airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 153 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 misjudgment of the distance between the B767 wingtip and the MD-88 tail. Contributing to the accident was the slushy condition of the ramp which limited the maneuvering space available.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2016 · about 10:22 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Liberty International A · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 153 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation MD 88 88, built 1992
- Registration
- N908DE · no longer on the register · serial 53417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 24, 2016 at 19:22 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 1409, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N908DE, was struck by a Boeing 767, N178DZ, that was under tow by a Delta Airlines ground crew in the vicinity of gate 42 at Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey (EWR). There were no injuries to the 153 passengers and crew members onboard the MD-88 or to the one person aboard the B767 nor to the four ground crew personnel. There was substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the MD-88. According to the operator, after landing the MD-88 crew taxied into the alley in the vicinity of gate 36, awaiting gate 41B to clear, and set the parking brake. Airport Customer Service (ACS) representatives were towing the B767 to gate 42 (the ACS personnel were not aboard with the intent for flight), and following a Port Authority vehicle to gate 42. The ACS agents and the MD-88 flight crew reported that the ramp conditions were very slushy and limited space was available. The ACS representative aboard the B767 requested that the MD-88 pull forward, to allow clearance between the two aircraft, and the flight crew complied with the request. The captain stated that he could only move about 15 to 20 feet due to the ramp conditions. Shortly afterward, the flight crew felt the impact and noted that the two aircraft had made contact. The tug driver was not aware of the impact until after arrival at gate 42. The MD-88 was towed to the gate and passengers deplaned via the jetway. The MD-88 received substantial damage to the left elevator, elevator tab, and horizontal stabilizer tip. The left winglet of the B767 received minor damage.
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 standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 15,808 hours in all; 12,182 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 5,504 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 143 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 24, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58,173 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, January 21, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 149,500 lb
- Seats: 157
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI at 9:05 pm
- Destination: EWR Newark NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from KEWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 148 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 25, 2016. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maps or Charts of Accident Area | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Captain Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Fo Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Fa Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Acs Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Maintenance Record N908DE | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Damage Photos | 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.
Other NTSB records under N908DE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.