Airbus Industrie A330-323 N277AY and Airbus A321-231 N508AY accident near Charlotte, North Carolina

Probable cause

The Airbus A330 flight crew's failure to maintain clearance from a standing airplane while taxiing.

NTSB analysis

An Airbus A330 was standing on taxiway behind other aircraft holding for re-routes due to weather. An air traffic controller asked the flight crew if they could depart off of a different runway and the crew accepted the clearance. The A330 then had to make a left turn onto a different taxiway and the captain asked the first officer if there was adequate clearance from their right wing tip to the tail of the standing A321 ahead. The first officer replied that there was adequate clearance and continued with preparing for takeoff. The flight crew subsequently felt a jolt as the right wing tip of the A330 contacted the rudder of the A321, resulting in minor damage to the wing tip of the A330 and substantial damage to the rudder of the A321.

An Airbus A330 was standing on a taxiway behind other aircraft holding for re-routes due to weather. An air traffic controller asked the flight crew if they could depart off of a different runway and the crew accepted the clearance. The A330 then had to make a left turn onto a different taxiway and the captain asked the first officer if there was adequate clearance from their right wing tip to the tail of the standing A321 ahead. The first officer replied that there was adequate clearance and continued with preparing for takeoff. The flight crew subsequently felt a jolt as the right wing tip of the A330 contacted the rudder of the A321, resulting in minor damage to the wing tip of the A330 and substantial damage to the rudder of the A321.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10LA299 for the full record.