# Accident 20170912015979A: Embraer EMB120ER, Greeley, CO, September 12, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2017, 20:45 local time
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Airport: Greeley Weld County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: KCQA
- Location: 40.4375° N, 104.6333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4375&lon=-104.6333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N121CZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121CZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Embraer EMB-120ER (registry code 3260203, https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 (registry code 52116, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB120ER
- Reported engine: PRATT AND WHITNEY PW118
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 3,366 total, 799 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA350) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170912015979A

## Narrative

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

CREW PERFORMED NORMAL PREFLIGHT AND POWER ON CHECKS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE FIRST OFFICER WAS ON THE FLIGHT DECK MONITORING THE APU AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS IN THE MAIN AIRCRAFT ENTRANCE DOORWAY WAITING FOR THE BUS TO GET TO THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE AIRSTAIR DOOR OPEN. CAPTAIN WAS INSIDE THE FBO UNTIL THE BUS ARRIVED, CAPTAIN THEN PROCEEDED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND CHECKED WITH THE FIRST OFFICER AND FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO ENSURE EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR PASSENGER LOADING.

CHARTER BUS WAS BRINGING COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TEAM TO THE AIRPORT WITH THE INTENT OF THEM FLYING ON THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HOME AFTER THE MATCH.

FBO LET THE CHARTER BUS THROUGH THE GATE, THERE WAS NO ONE ESCORTING THE BUS. THE CAPTAIN WAS GIVEN TWO DIFFERENT STORIES REGARDING THE ESCORT. THE BUS DRIVER SAID THE LINE GUY WORKING TOLD HIM TO JUST PROCEED TO THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE PULLED THROUGH THE GATE. THE LINE GUY SAID THAT THE BUS DRIVER JUST PULLED AWAY FROM HIM WITHOUT GIVING HIM A CHANCE TO ESCORT HIM. NO LINE PERSONNEL WAS MARSHALING THE BUS. THERE WERE NO CONES PLACED AROUND THE AIRCRAFT PERIMETER.

CREW REPORTED THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRCRAFT MOVED VIOLENTLY, CREW IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT AND SAW THE CHARTER BUS IN CONTACT WITH THE LH WING TRAINING EDGE IN THE AREA OF THE AILERON AND THE BUS IMMEDIATELY BACKED UP.

THE CHIEF PILOT FOR FRIEGHT RUNNERS EXPRESS IS PREPARING A CONTRACT FOR CHARTER BUSES TO WAIT FOR A GUIDE TO AIRCRAFT BEFORE THEY APPROACH AND A CREW MEMBER WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE BUSES APPROACH AIRCRAFT.

NOTE: IF MORE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED IN THE FUTURE AN AMMENDMENT WILL BE REQUIRED.

## 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 CEN17LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA350), Sep 13, 2017: Embraer EMB 120ER (N121CZ), Greeley, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The bus driver's failure to maintain clearance from the standing airplane during dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the airport's lack of an escort for the bus.

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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