# Accident 19990412045369A: Saab 340B, Boston, MA, April 12, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 12, 1999, 19:26 local time
- Place: Boston, MA
- Airport: General Edward Lawrence Logan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: PLGA
- Location: 42.3629° N, 71.0064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (BOS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3629&lon=-71.0064&mi=10
- Aircraft: N347BE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SAAB 340B
- People aboard: 9
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990412045369A

## Narrative

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

(.4)A BAGGAGE BELT-LOADER STRUCK THE PARKED AIRPLANE IN AN AREA BELOW THE CARGO DOOR. THE VEHICLE APPROACHED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT STOPPING, AND THE DRIVER JUMPED OFF JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION.  AT THE TIME, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINES WERE SECURED, THE WHEELS WERE CHOCKED, THE SEAT BELT SIGN HAD BEEN TURNED OFF, AND THE PARKING CHECKLIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED.  THE PASSENGERS WERE STANDING, AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL TO OPEN THE DOOR.  GROUND SUPPORT PERSONNEL CHECKED THE BELT-LOADER BRAKING SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COLLISION AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES.  THE AIRLINE HAD A PUBLISHED PROCEDURE IN PLACE, WHEREIN THE BELT-LOADER DRIVER WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE 50 FEET PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE, AND AGAIN, AT LEAST 8 FEET AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE.  THE DRIVER WAS THEN REQUIRED TO APPROACH THE AIRPLANE WITH THE BELT-LOADER AT A 'CREEP' SPEED.                            (-23) WHILE PARKED AT GATE 15, BUSINESS EXPRESS FLIGHT 6240, A SAAB 340B,  WAS DAMAGED WHEN A BAGGAGE LOADER DRIVEN BY A BUSINESS EXPRESS EMPLOYEE STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL BELLY SKIN AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST ARRIVED FROM PRESQUE ISLE, ME, AND THE  PASSENGERS HAD NOT YET DEPLANED.

## 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 NYC99LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA092), Apr 12, 1999: Saab-Scania 340B (N347BE), Boston, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The belt-loader driver's loss of control of the vehicle, and his failure to follow published procedures for approaching the airplane with the belt-loader.

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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