UPS, Continental Jets Scrape Paint At IAH

Last week, Aero-News reported on two separate incidents along the east coast involving four GA aircraft that got a little too close for comfort while maneuvering on tarmacs in Daytona Beach, FL and Dunkirk, NY.

The pilots of the Piper Mirage, Smith Aerostar, and two Cessna Skyhawks involved in those mishaps Wednesday may take some comfort, though, that their ignominy is now shared by flight crews aboard two jets that bumped into each other at Houston Intercontinental Airport Friday night

According to the FAA Preliminary Report on the incident, Continental Flight 1423 had just arrived in Houston Friday night from Sacramento, CA when the crew was told to contact ramp crews. As the B737 taxied to parking, the left wing of a UPS B767 (file photo of type, below right) struck the Continental jet's tailcone.

The extent of damage to both aircraft was unknown, according to the FAA. While there were no injuries, the Continental flight was delayed arriving to the gate by approximately 30 minutes while ground crews sorted things out.

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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: COA1423        Make/Model: B737      Description: 737
  Date: 12/16/2005     Time: 0005

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: HOUSTON   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT WAS STRUCK IN THE TAIL CONE BY THE LEFT WING TIP OF UPS 2774, A BOEING
  767, HOUSTON, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: UNKNOWN

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Taxi      Operation: Air Carrier

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: COA 1423 CONTACT RAMP.  UPS 2774 TURN RIGHT TAXIWAY NB TAXI TO

  FAA FSDO: HOUSTON, TX  (SW09)                   Entry date: 12/16/2005

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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 319UP        Make/Model: B767      Description: B-767
  Date: 12/16/2005     Time: 0005

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: HOUSTON   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT STRUCK THE TAIL CONE OF CONTINENTAL 1423 ON TAXIWAY, HOUSTON, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: UNKNOWN

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Taxi      Operation: Air Carrier

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: COA 1423 CONTACT RAMP.  UPS 2774 TURN RIGHT TAXI TO PARKING.

  FAA FSDO: HOUSTON, TX  (SW09)                   Entry date: 12/16/2005

FMI: www.faa.gov/data_statistics/accident_incident/preliminary_data/