Boeing 757-351 and Boeing 737-832 accident near Seattle, Washington, December 28, 2008
On December 28, 2008 at about 3:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing 757-351 (N585NW) and Boeing 737-832 (N397DA), were involved in the same accident near Seattle, Washington (Seattle-Tacoma Int. Airport). No one was hurt; 352 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 tug operator and wing walker of this airplane to maintain clearance with the other aircraft during the pushback process in dark night. Also causal was the ramp controller's misinterpretation of the other airplane's gate location and her improper clearance for both airplanes to simultaneously push back from nearly opposing gates.
The failure of the tug operator and wing walker of the other airplane to maintain clearance with this aircraft during the pushback process in dark night. Also causal was the ramp controller's misinterpretation of the other airplane's gate location and her improper clearance for both airplanes to simultaneously push back from nearly opposing gates.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2008 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Seattle-Tacoma Int. Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 352 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing 757-351 · all 757-351s on the register
- Registration
- N585NW · registry record · serial 32985
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-832 · all 737-832s on the register
- Registration
- N397DA · registry record · serial 30537
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing 757-351 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 757-351 and a Boeing 737-832 were substantially damaged when the tails of both airplanes collided during the pushback process from two opposing terminal gates during night visual meteorological conditions. The flight crew and ground crew of the Boeing 737-832 reported that they had stopped, were in a static position, and in the final stages of disconnecting the tug when the collision occurred. The ground crew of the Boeing 757-351 reported that they never observed the Boeing 737-832 during their pushback process. Review of recorded communications tapes between the flight crews of both aircraft and the ramp controller revealed that the Boeing 757-351 was cleared to be pushed into the alleyway with its tail to the south. About 9 seconds later, the Boeing 737-832 was cleared for pushback into the alleyway with its tail to the north. The recorded communications tapes revealed that the ramp controller did not advise either aircraft of the opposing pushback operations. The controller stated that she thought that the Boeing 737-832 was requesting to push back from a different gate than they had requested; however, the recorded communications tapes clearly have flight crew of the Boeing 737 stating their correct gate in their initial call for a pushback clearance.
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 737-832 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Boeing 757-351 and a Boeing 737-832 were substantially damaged when the tails of both airplanes collided during the pushback process from two opposing terminal gates during night visual meteorological conditions. The flight crew and ground crew of the Boeing 737-832 reported that they had stopped, were in a static position, and in the final stages of disconnecting the tug when the collision occurred. The ground crew of the Boeing 757-351 reported that they never observed the Boeing 737-832 during their pushback process. Review of recorded communications tapes between the flight crews of both aircraft and the ramp controller revealed that the Boeing 757-351 was cleared to be pushed into the alleyway with its tail to the south. About 9 seconds later, the Boeing 737-832 was cleared for pushback into the alleyway with its tail to the north. The recorded communications tapes revealed that the ramp controller did not advise either aircraft of the opposing pushback operations. The controller stated that she thought that the Boeing 737-832 was requesting to push back from a different gate than they had requested; however, the recorded communications tapes clearly have flight crew of the Boeing 737 stating their correct gate in their initial call for a pushback clearance.
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 757-351 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during pushback/tow (engine start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Ground crew
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › (general) › Airport personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,100 hours in all; 466 in this make and model; 196 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 3,755 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,478 hours in all; 377 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 26, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,244 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 27, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 271,000 lb
- Seats: 235
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P & W PW2040 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W PW2040 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northwest Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from SEA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 7 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 186 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-832 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during pushback/towing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Ground crew
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › (general) › Airport personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,138 hours in all; 303 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 14, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,942 hours in all; 1,939 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,347 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 27, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 173,000 lb
- Seats: 168
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl. CFM56 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA
- Destination: CVG Covington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 151 |
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.