# Accident 20030624012029A: Emb EMB135KL, Boston, MA, June 24, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 24, 2003, 15:15 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: SIMA
- Location: 42.3642° N, 71.0050° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3642&lon=-71.0050&mi=10
- Aircraft: N839AE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N839AE-2025-05-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Embraer EMB-135KL (registry code 3260302, https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-135kl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison AE-3007A1/3 (registry code 03036, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-ae-3007a1-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMB EMB135KL
- People aboard: 34
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA135) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030624012029A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DATE: JUNE 24, 2003 LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BOSTON MA (BOS) 15:15 EDT ASI: DONALD E. SMALL N839AE EMBRAER EMB-135-KL S/N 145653 FSDO-01 TUESDAY 06/24/2003 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AMR, AMERICAN EAGLE, FLIGHT #4644, N839AE, EMB-135-KL, RECIEVED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR AND TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WHEN THE "LEKTRO" PUSHBACK VEHICLE JACKKNIFED DURING THE PUSHBACK FROM THE SOUTH CARGO RAMP IN BOSTON AT 1510 EDT, 6/24/2003. NO INJURIES, BUT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE WERE TWO DRIVERS INVOLVED DURING THE PUSHBACK PROCEDURE. THE FIRST DRIVER STARTED THE PUSHBACK PROCEDURE BUT WAS HAVING TROUBLE STEERING THE PUSHBACK VEHICLE, AND STARTED TO JACKKNIFE THE PUSHBACK VEHICLE. THE SECOND DRIVER, WHO CAME OVER TO HELP, JACKKNIFED THE PUSHBACK VEHICLE EVEN MORE AND DROVE THE PUSHBACK VEHICLE UNDER THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF A PUNCTURE TO THE BELLY SKIN APPROXIMATELY 9 X 7 INCHES WITH NUMEROUS DENTS AND SCRATCHES IN THREE AREAS. THE DAMAGE EXTENDED FROM STATIONS 19R TO 21L UNDER THE MAIN DOOR ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THREE STRINGERS AND                                                       ONE RIB WERE ALSO DAMAGED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PUSHBACK VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A GROUND SUPPORT MECHANIC AND FOUND IT TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. THE "LEKTRO" PUSHBACK VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 113 HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE PUSH BACK VEHICLE WAS A BENT STEERING WHEEL. THE TWO RAMP PERSONNEL INVOLVED WERE PLACED ON PAID ADMININSTRATIVE LEAVE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE TWO RAMP PERSONNEL WERE DRUG TESTED. THE TEST RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

## 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 NYC03LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA135), Jun 24, 2003: Embraer EMB-135-KL (N839AE), Boston, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The tug driver's failure to maintain directional control of the tug, which caused the tug to impact the airplane.

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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