Boeing 737 accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, October 29, 2010
On October 29, 2010 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Boeing 737, registered CFWAQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) not oper) near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Int airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). No one was hurt; 142 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The ground service vehicle driver's depressing of the accelerator rather than the brake pedal, resulting in a collision with the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2010 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Int · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 142 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 7CT · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- CFWAQ · no longer on the register · serial 32748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was parked at the gate and about half of the passengers had deplaned. At that time, a ground service vehicle backed toward the airplane to service the aft lavatory. A guide man signaled the driver to stop the vehicle for a brake check, which he did. The guide man then signaled the driver to resume reversing the vehicle, and subsequently signaled the driver to stop in the service position, located about three feet from the airplane's fuselage. The driver stopped the vehicle; however, before he could put it into park, his foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the accelerator, which resulted in the vehicle further backing into the airplane. During the impact, the airplane incurred a 12-inch by 6-inch tear in the fuselage, which included stringer 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 handling event during standing (engine(s) not oper) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Ground support/equipment › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 9, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28,356 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 29, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 138,300 lb
- Seats: 142
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CFM-56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CFM-56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYUL Montreal at 4:01 pm
- Destination: KFLL Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KFLL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 136 |
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.