Boeing 767-300ER accident near Boston, Massachusetts, December 27, 2000
On December 27, 2000 at about 9:17 pm local time, a Boeing 767-300ER, registered N155DL, was involved in an accident near Boston, Massachusetts (General Edward Lawrence Logan airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 79 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The vehicle driver's improper decision to pass behind an aircraft with operating engines, which resulted in an encounter with jet blast.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2000 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · General Edward Lawrence Logan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 79 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 767-300ER · all 767-300ERs on the register
- Registration
- N155DL · no longer on the register · serial 25269
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flightcrew was taxiing to the gate, but stopped short to wait for a required third wingwalker. As the airplane was stopped, several ground vehicles passed behind it along a vehicle service road. At the time the third wingwalker arrived, a ramp serviceman was operating a tug along the vehicle service road. As the tug passed behind the airplane, the airplane began to taxi to the gate. The jet blast blew an empty container, which was being towed by the tug. As the ramp serviceman attempted to retrieve the container, he was also blown to the ground. The serviceman sustained head injuries and was transported to the local hospital. The local port authority regulations prohibited operation of ground vehicles behind an airplane with operating engines. However, the serviceman was not cited for any violations by the port authority.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,700 hours in all; 880 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,906 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 29, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39,413 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 407,000 lb
- Seats: 208
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CF6 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAX Los Angeles Int CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: BOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33L, 10,081 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from BOS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 10 | |||
| Passengers | 69 |
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.