Boeing 737-732 and Boeing 737-832 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, May 12, 2011
On May 12, 2011 at about 10:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-732 (N308DE) and Boeing 737-832 (N378DA), were involved in the same accident near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta). No one was hurt; 298 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The B737-700 pilot did not maintain adequate wing tip clearance while taxiing around the stopped B-737-800.
The B737-700 pilot did not maintain adequate wing tip clearance while taxiing around the stopped B-737-800.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2011 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 298 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-732 · all 737-732s on the register
- Registration
- N308DE · no longer on the register · serial 29656
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-832 · all 737-832s on the register
- Registration
- N378DA · registry record · serial 30265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-732 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain of a B737-800 had taxied to the entry of the assigned parking ramp where he stopped and waited for the ground crew to clear the parking area, post wing walkers, and give him the signal to park. The captain of a B737-700, which was following the B737-800, requested, through the ramp controller, that the stopped airplane move forward so that his airplane could pass. The B737-800 taxied forward and stopped again. The captain of the B737-700 then attempted to pass the B737-800, and the left winglet struck the B737-800’s right elevator, substantially damaging it.
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 737-832 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The captain of a B737-800 had taxied to the entry of the assigned parking ramp where he stopped and waited for the ground crew to clear the parking area, post wing walkers, and give him the signal to park. The captain of a B737-700, which was following the B737-800, requested, through the ramp controller, that the stopped airplane move forward so that his airplane could pass. The B737-800 taxied forward and stopped again. The captain of the B737-700 then attempted to pass the B737-800, and the left winglet struck the B737-800’s right elevator, substantially damaging it.
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 737-732 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unneccessary action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,406 hours in all; 4,841 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,428 hours in all; 2,589 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,497 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 154,500 lb
- Seats: 131
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-7826/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-7826/3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: TGU Tegucigalpa at 5:06 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 124 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-832 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 Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unneccessary action › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,230 hours in all; 7,438 in this make and model; 179 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,082 hours in all; 4,351 in this make and model; 232 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36,281 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 172,500 lb
- Seats: 189
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SDQ Santo Domingo at 6:58 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 5 | |||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 160 |
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.