Mcdonnell Douglas MD88 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, April 5, 2019
On April 5, 2019, a 1991 Mcdonnell Douglas MD88, registered N977DL, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta I). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the tug driver to give way to the taxiing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2019
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta I · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD88, built 1991
- Registration
- N977DL · no longer on the register · serial 53258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 4, 2019, at 2019 eastern daylight time, Delta Air Lines flight 1276, a Boeing/McDonnell Douglas MD88, N977DL, was substantially damaged after being struck by a baggage tug during taxi at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia (ATL). The were no injuries aboard the airplane, the tug driver received minor injuries. Night visual conditions with light rain prevailed. The airplane was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York to ATL. According to the operator, the flight crew reported that the flight from SYR. The captain reported that after landing, ATC cleared the flight to enter the Ramp 2 east taxi lane and taxi to gate B14. The captain indicated that as they began to turn right into the ramp, Ramp Control instructed flight 1276 to give way to opposite direction traffic. As the captain was looking forward to identify the traffic, the first officer called out, "Stop, Stop, Stop!" The captain immediately applied full brakes. The flight crew then heard and felt an impact coming from the right side of the forward fuselage. The pilots notified ramp control and held position. Ground support personnel arrived quickly to assist. The ground personnel told the pilot via inter-phone that a tug and baggage cart had impacted the fuselage and was against the nose gear. Ground personnel reported to the crew that the tug driver was OK but that he did not know where he was or how he got there. The crew and passengers deplaned via the ventral stairs with no further incident. The tug driver did not cooperate with the investigation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,470 hours in all; 11,088 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 9,204 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 18, 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: 2,207 hours in all; 273 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 23, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 72,944 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, April 3, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 150,500 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
The flight
- Departed from: KSYR Syracuse NY at 10:03 pm
- Destination: KATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from KATL
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 29, 2020. 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 | Captain Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Fo Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airport Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.