Boeing 737-247 accident near Covington, Kentucky, January 17, 2005
On January 17, 2005 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Boeing 737-247, registered N373DL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covington, Kentucky (Cincinnatti/Northern Kentucky airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 14 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The catering truck driver's failure to maintain clearance of the parked airplane by his inadvertent depressing the accelerator. A factor in this accident was the catering truck driver's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2005 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Kentucky · Cincinnatti/Northern Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 14 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-247 · all 737-247s on the register
- Registration
- N373DL · no longer on the register · serial 23520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was parked at a gate and boarding passengers, when it was struck on it's right side by a catering truck. Damage to the fuselage included a 6-inch, by 14-inch puncture, and several small dents. In addition, two formers and one stringer were damaged. The driver of the catering truck reported that he was approaching the airplane, when he received a radio call. While talking over the radio, he inadvertently stepped on the accelerator, and the truck subsequently struck the airplane.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,513 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,960 hours in all; 1,165 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46,832 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 121,500 lb
- Seats: 106
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15A (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVG Covington KY
- Destination: TPA Tampa FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.64 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from CVG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 10 |
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.