Boeing 777-232 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, July 12, 2007
On July 12, 2007 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Boeing 777-232, registered N865DA, was involved in an accident near Atlanta, Georgia (The William B Hartsfield Atlan). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 250 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight attendant's inadvertent misstep on a ladder and falling during pushback resulting in serious injuries.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2007 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · The William B Hartsfield Atlan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 250 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 777-232 · all 777-232s on the register
- Registration
- N865DA · registry record · serial 29737
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During pushback, the flight attendant stated that she was contacted by the lead flight attendant who asked if the crew rest area was secure. The attendant answered yes and looked to check again and found the door ajar. Fearing a passenger may have gone in she went over and climbed the stairs and checked the rest area. On her way down she believes she misplaced a foot on the narrow stairs and fell down breaking her arm in three places. After a few seconds she got up and contacted the lead flight attendant who contacted the captain and the aircraft was towed back to the gate.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,677 hours in all; 1,171 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,306 hours in all; 577 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33,511 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 656,000 lb
- Seats: 285
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce T895-17 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce T895-17 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 9 | ||
| Passengers | 241 |
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.