Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 and Boeing 727-247 incident near Boston, Massachusetts, March 24, 2000
On March 24, 2000 at about 7:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 (N944DL) and Boeing 727-247 (N297WA), were involved in the same incident near Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Int'L Airport). No one was hurt; 202 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the ground pushback crew to maintain an adequate clearance from a nearby airplane during pushback.
the failure of the ground pushback crew to maintain an adequate clearance from a nearby airplane during pushback.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2000 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · Logan Int'L Airport
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 202 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88
- Registration
- N944DL · no longer on the register · serial 49817
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 727-247 · all 727-247s on the register
- Registration
- N297WA · no longer on the register · serial 22534
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The MD-88 was being pushed back toward a Boeing 727. There were three ground walkers and a tug driver. The three ground walkers all signaled for the tug driver to stop. However, the tug driver reported that he was unable to stop prior to collision without jamming on the brakes. He elected to make a controlled stop and the elevator of the MD-88 struck the rudder of the Boeing 727.
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 727-247 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The MD-88 was being pushed back toward a Boeing 727. There were three ground walkers and a tug driver. The three ground walkers all signaled for the tug driver to stop. However, the tug driver reported that he was unable to stop prior to collision without jamming on the brakes. He elected to make a controlled stop and the elevator of the MD-88 struck the rudder of the Boeing 727.
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 Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 5,979 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 22, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 160,500 lb
- Seats: 149
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOS at 7:20 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from BOS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 81 |
The factual record for the Boeing 727-247 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 29, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 190,500 lb
- Seats: 156
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D-15 (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOS
- Destination: JFK Jamaica NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 108 |
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.