NTSB/HAR-02/03 PB2002-916203 Highway Accident Report Collision Between Truck-Tractor Semitrailer and School Bus Near Mountainburg, Arkansas on May 31, 2001 RANS T PO National L R A T N LURIB US A P UNUM E O T I Transportation I O T N A N Safety Board S A D F E R T Y B OA Washington, D.C. Highway Accident Report Collision Between Truck-Tractor Semitrailer and School Bus Near Mountainburg, Arkansas on May 31, 2001 NTSB/HAR-02/03 PB2002-916203 National Transportation Safety Board Notation 7490 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Adopted September 4, 2002 Washington, D.C. 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2002. Collision Between Truck-Tractor Semitrailer and School Bus Near Mountainburg, Arkansas, on May 31, 2001. Highway Accident Report. NTSB/HAR-02/03. Washington, DC. Abstract: On May 31, 2001, near Mountainburg, Arkansas, a Gayle Stuart Trucking, Inc., truck-tractor semitrailer collided with a 65-passenger school bus operated by the Mountainburg, Arkansas, Public Schools. Three school bus passengers were fatally injured; two other passengers received serious injuries. Four passengers, the school bus driver, and the truckdriver sustained minor injuries. The major safety issues discussed in this report are the poor condition of the tractor semitrailer brakes, inadequate motor carrier inspections and oversight, the use of propane tanks on school buses, and occupant protection within school buses. As a result of its investigation, the Safety Board made recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the National Fire Protection Association, and spring brake manufacturers. The Safety Board reiterated a recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Recent publications are available in their entirety on the Web at <http://www.ntsb.gov>. Other information about available publications also may be obtained from the Web site or by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Public Inquiries Section, RE-51 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 (800) 877-6799 or (202) 314-6551 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from the National Technical Information Service. To purchase this publication, order report number PB2002-916203 from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of Board reports related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. iii Highway Accident Report Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations . v Executive Summary . vi Factual Information . 1 Accident Narrative . 1 Truck . 1 School Bus . .3 Collision . 3 Injuries . 3 Medical and Pathological Information . 6 Toxicological Tests . 7 Survival Aspects . 7 Emergency Response . 7 Survivability . 8 Damage . 8 Driver Information . 9 Truckdriver . 9 School Bus Driver . 10 Vehicle and Wreckage Information . 10 Truck-Tractor Semitrailer . 10 School Bus . 18 Highway Information . 21 Highway Design . 21 Tire Marks . 25 Operational Information . 25 Gayle Stuart Trucking . 25 Mountainburg Public Schools . 26 Management Information . 26 Gayle Stuart Trucking Company . 26 Federal Oversight . 28 State Oversight . 30 Meteorological Information . 30 Tests and Research . 31 Sight Distance . 31 Brake Heat Tests . 31 Simulation . 34 Other Information . 35 Brake Data . 35 Brake Adjustment Methodology . 36 Spring Brakes . 37 Analysis . 38 The Accident . .38 Exclusions . 38 Contents iv Highway Accident Report Accident Discussion . 39 Truck Brakes . .41 Recommendation History . 41 Accident Vehicle . 44 Motor Carrier Inspection and Oversight . 48 Recommendation History . 48 Compliance Reviews . 49 Qualified Brake Inspector . 50 Fuel Tanks . 52 Recommendation History . ..