Boeing 737-72T and Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV accident near Newark, New Jersey, March 16, 2005
On March 16, 2005 at about 5:58 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 737-72T (N50TC) and Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV (N874C), were involved in the same accident near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Liberty International airport). 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 Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision.
The Boeing flightcrew's misjudged clearance of the parked Gulfstream during taxi, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2005 · about 5:58 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Liberty International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 14 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 737-72T · all 737-72Ts on the register
- Registration
- N50TC · registry record · serial 29024
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · large-aircraft private carriage rules (Part 125)
- Aircraft 2
- Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV · all G-IVs on the register
- Registration
- N874C · registry record · serial 1219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 737-72T final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 737 and a Gulfstream G-IV were parked on the ramp of a fixed based operator. The flightcrew of the Gulfstream had started the engines, and were waiting for taxi clearance. Ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing flightcrew began to taxi out of the ramp area, without ground personnel assisting, and noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, ground personnel moved quickly into position as a right wingwalker and a marshaller. The marshaller first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and its left winglet struck the rudder of the Gulfstream.
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 Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 737 and a Gulfstream G-IV were parked on the ramp of a fixed based operator. The flightcrew of the Gulfstream had started the engines, and were waiting for taxi clearance. Ground personnel were in place to assist the Gulfstream taxi out of the ramp area. The Boeing flightcrew began to taxi out of the ramp area, without ground personnel assisting, and noted parked airplanes on both sides. As the Boeing converged on the parked Gulfstream, ground personnel moved quickly into position as a right wingwalker and a marshaller. The marshaller first signaled the Boeing to turn right, and when it did not, he signaled the Boeing to stop. The Boeing proceeded straight for another 5 to 10 seconds before stopping, and its left winglet struck the rudder of the Gulfstream.
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 Boeing 737-72T 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: 12,607 hours in all; 1,245 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 3,520 as pilot in command; 1,470 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,463 hours in all; 157 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 5,701 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 1, 2005; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 171,500 lb
- Seats: 18
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CFM56-7B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CFM56-7B (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 5:58 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from EWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
The factual record for the Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 19,320 hours in all; 933 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 16,760 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,600 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command; 690 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,313 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 1, 2004; 135 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 75,000 lb
- Seats: 16
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce TAY MK611-8 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce TAY MK611-8 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 5:58 pm
- Destination: BED Bedford MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.