Event LAX97LA073

Factual narrative

On December 22, 1996, at 1800 hours Pacific standard time, a ramp agent was injured during the push-back of Sun Country Airlines flight 94 from the gate at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15, N151SY, was operated by Sun Country Airlines, Inc., as a non-scheduled domestic passenger charter flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The ramp agent sustained serious injuries when his foot and ankle were run over by the nose landing gear tires. The 3 flight deck crew, 9 cabin attendants, and 327 passengers onboard the aircraft were not injured. There was no damage to the aircraft. The flight was originating as a non-stop flight to Detroit, Michigan. The ramp agent was functioning as the "talker" during the push back operation and his headset was plugged into the aircraft at the nose wheel well. The agent realized he had forgotten his lighted hand wands and moved to the wheel well to unplug his headset from the aircraft just as the tug driver started pushing the aircraft back from the gate. The injured agent's foot and ankle were run over and crushed by one of the nose wheel tires. The ramp agent was functioning as the 'talker' during the push back operation and his headset was plugged into the aircraft at the nose wheel well. The agent realized he had forgotten his lighted hand wands and moved to the wheel well to unplug his headset from the aircraft just as the tug driver started pushing the aircraft back from the gate. The injured agent's foot and ankle were run over and crushed by one of the nose wheel tires. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12