NYC06LA151

Factual narrative

On June 17, 2006, about 1525 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 767-300, N653UA, operating as United Airlines flight 395, was substantially damaged when it was hit by a baggage cart at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. The 7 crewmembers and 176 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The scheduled passenger flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a company flight safety investigator, the airplane was at the gate with the parking brake set, and the loading bridge had been retracted. A ramp employee, operating a tractor with a baggage cart in tow, was on the left side of the airplane when a pushback guideman on the right side of the airplane signaled that he needed hand wands for the pushback. Forgetting he had a baggage cart in tow, the driver drove under the fuselage to reach the guideman. In the process, the baggage cart impacted the underside of the fuselage about 25 feet aft of the nose and 17 feet in front of the wings. The driver subsequently stated to company officials that he did not follow standard operating procedures when he drove under the fuselage, and that, while trying to ensure an on-time departure, he forgot he had the baggage cart attached to the tractor. The driver was current in all required training. The airplane was at the gate with the crew and passengers onboard, the parking brake was set, and the loading bridge was retracted. A ramp employee, operating a tractor with a baggage cart in tow, was on the left side of the airplane when a pushback guideman on the right side of the airplane signaled that he needed hand wands for the pushback. Forgetting he had a baggage cart in tow, the driver drove under the fuselage to reach the guideman. In the process, the baggage cart impacted the underside of the fuselage about 25 feet aft of the nose and 17 feet in front of the wings. The driver subsequently stated to company officials that he did not follow standard operating procedures when he drove under the fuselage, and that, while trying to ensure an on-time departure, he forgot he had the baggage cart attached to the tractor. The driver was current on all required training. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12