# Accident 19960920046079A: Saab 340B, Fort Smith, AR, September 20, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 1996, 18:40 local time
- Place: Fort Smith, AR
- Airport: Fort Smith Municipal
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: WWMA
- Location: 35.4105° N, 94.3800° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4105&lon=-94.3800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N320AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N320AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Saab-Scania SAAB 340B (registry code 7860101, https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-saab-340b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE CT7-SER series (registry code 30031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SAAB 340B
- Reported engine: GE CT79B
- People aboard: 25
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,183 total, 1,049 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA394](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA394) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960920046079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED AND PARKED AT THE PASSENGER DISEMBARKING LOCATION AT 1831, AND A LIGHT RAIN (DRIZZLE) WAS FALLING AS PASSENGERS WERE DISEMBARKING. THE FOURTH PASSENGER STATED THAT HE DISEMBARKED DOWN THE STAIRWAY WITH A BRIEFCASE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. HE REPORTED THAT AS HE STEPPED ON THE SECOND-TO-LAST STEP, HE 'SLIPPED' AND 'REACHED FOR A HANDRAIL TO SUPPORT HIMSELF.' HE REPORTED THAT AT THAT POINT, THERE WAS NO HANDRAIL FOR HIM TO HOLD ONTO, AND HE SUBSEQUENTLY FELL TO THE PAVEMENT INJURING HIMSELF. HANDRAILS WERE INCORPORATED WITH THE STAIRWAY. THE HANDRAILS EXTENDED DOWN THE STAIRS (ON BOTH SIDES) FROM THE CABIN DOOR TO A POINT WHERE IT ANGLED ABOUT 90 DEGREES (DOWN & BACK TOWARD THE STEPS). THE LOWER END OF THE HANDRAILS WERE ATTACHED AT THE THIRD STEP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRWAY. THE LOWEST USABLE PART OF THE HANDRAILS EXTENDED BEYOND THE SECOND STEP (FROM THE BOTTOM) AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY OVER THE BOTTOM STEP. ALTHOUGH LIGHT RAIN WAS REPORTED, THE STAIRWAY WAS REPORTED AS NOT WET, SINCE IT HAD JUST BEEN EXTENDED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND NON-SLIP COVERING OF THE STEPS WAS REPORTED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. ONE OF THE PASSENGER'S 'DOCKSIDER' SHOES WAS FOUND ON THE  STAIRS. ALSO, THE COMPANY REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER BELIEVED THAT HIS BRIEFCASE MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT ON SOMETHING ON THE WAY DOWN THE STAIRS.        (-23) PASSENGER DISEMBARKED AIRCRAFT AND FELL DOWN AIRSTAIRS. HE SUSTAINED FRACTURED UPPER ARM AND BROKEN SHOULDER. ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER WAS DRIZZLE, IT WAS NOT A FACTOR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA394](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA394), Sep 20, 1996: Saab-Scania SF-340B (N320AE), Fort Smith, AR, no damage. Probable cause: the passenger fell for undetermined reasons, while disembarking from the airplane.

## Other reports on N320AE (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19981030041229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981030041229I), Oct 30, 1998: Saab 340B (N320AE), Shreveport, LA. (-23) On October 30, 1998, at 23:15 central daylight time, the captain of American eagle flight 5093 declared an emergency to the Shreveport Regional Airport,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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