Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, March 11, 2019
On March 11, 2019 at about 2:17 am local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737 (N3756) and Boeing 757 (N591NW), were involved in the same accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int). No one was hurt; 397 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the B737 captain to maintain separation with the airplane stopped on the taxiway.
failure of the B737 captain to maintain separation with the airplane stopped on the taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2019 · about 2:17 am local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 397 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737 832, built 2001 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N3756 · registry record · serial 30493
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 757 351, built 2003 · all 757s on the register
- Registration
- N591NW · registry record · serial 32991
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 10, 2019, at 2117 eastern daylight time, Delta Airlines flight 1068, a Boeing 737 (B737), N3756, collided with Delta Airlines flight 2777, a Boeing 757 (B757), N591NW while taxiing along taxiway B at the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. There were no injuries to the passengers and crew onboard either airplane, and the B757 was substantially damaged. Both aircraft were operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. The B757 had landed on runway 26R and was holding short of runway 26L at taxiway B2, awaiting clearance to cross the runway and taxi to the ramp. The B737 had landed following the B757 and was cleared to taxi along taxiway B to the Victor Loop. When approaching B2 on B, the B737 crew reported taxiing to the right of centerline to provide clearance with the B757 tail on their left. The B737 left wingtip contacted the B757 tail resulting in a light shudder on both aircraft. The B757 crew reported on ground frequency that they had been hit and the B737 crew acknowledged they may have hit them when passing along taxiway B. The B757 remained on the taxiway until maintenance had evaluated the damage, then taxied to the gate and deplaned. The B737 continued taxiing to the gate and deplaned. Post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the right elevator of the B757 and minor damage to the left winglet of the B737.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 757 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 10, 2019, at 2117 eastern daylight time, Delta Airlines flight 1068, a Boeing 737 (B737), N3756, collided with Delta Airlines flight 2777, a Boeing 757 (B757), N591NW while taxiing along taxiway B at the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia. There were no injuries to the passengers and crew onboard either airplane, and the B757 was substantially damaged. Both aircraft were operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as regularly scheduled passenger flights. The B757 had landed on runway 26R and was holding short of runway 26L at taxiway B2, awaiting clearance to cross the runway and taxi to the ramp. The B737 had landed following the B757 and was cleared to taxi along taxiway B to the Victor Loop. When approaching B2 on B, the B737 crew reported taxiing to the right of centerline to provide clearance with the B757 tail on their left. The B737 left wingtip contacted the B757 tail resulting in a light shudder on both aircraft. The B757 crew reported on ground frequency that they had been hit and the B737 crew acknowledged they may have hit them when passing along taxiway B. The B757 remained on the taxiway until maintenance had evaluated the damage, then taxied to the gate and deplaned. The B737 continued taxiing to the gate and deplaned. Post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the right elevator of the B757 and minor damage to the left winglet of the B737.
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 for the Boeing 737 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
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,497 hours in all; 3,083 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 1,634 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 21, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,042 hours in all; 922 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 28, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59,207 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 7, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Seats: 168
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 55,612 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 15,744 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: KMCI Kansas City MO
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26R, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 160 |
The factual record for the Boeing 757 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
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,055 hours in all; 9,390 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 4,877 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 21, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,777 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 24, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56,451 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 10, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 273,500 lb
- Seats: 245
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (turbofan); 46,095 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (turbofan); 58,260 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: KSEA Seattle WA at 9:38 pm
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 233 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.