- Date
- December 14, 2003, 19:55 local (Dec 15, 2003, 00:55 UTC)
- Place
- Miami, FL
- Injuries
- 44 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Pushback/towing
- Aircraft
- N445AWCanadair CL-600-2B19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report October 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Miami FSDO-19
- FAA report
- 20031214036119A
- Case key
- 58511
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The tug operator's loss of control and his failure to maintain clearance from the aircraft during pushback operations.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the pushback from the gate, the tug operator attempted to stop the airplane on the ramp. At the time of pushback operations the ramp surface was wet and the lighting condition on the ramp was dark. The tug slid to the left as the airplane went to the right for undetermined reasons. The shear pin on the tow bar broke and the airplane turned to the right. The tug collided with the right side of the fuselage after the tug driver jumped from the tug. Examination of the airplane revealed 9 damaged ribs on the bottom side of the fuselage.
Factual narrative
On December 14, 2003 at 1955 eastern standard time, a Can Adair, CL-600-2B19 N445AW, registered to and operated by Air Wisconsin as flight 2146 from Miami, Florida, enrooted to Tampa, Florida, was struck by a pushback tug at Miami International Airport, Miami Florida. The instrument commercial flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121 with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airline transport rated pilot, crew and 40 revenue passengers were not injured. The accident occurred at 1955, on December 14, 2003.
During the pushback from the gate, the tug driver attempted to stop the airplane on the ramp near spot 10. At the time of pushback the surface of the ramp was wet and dark. The tug operator applied the breaks and the tug began to skid. According to the tug operator, the aircraft slid to the right, and the tug was pushed to the left. The tow bar shear pin broke and the airplane turned to the right. The tug collided with the right side of the fuselage after the tug driver jumped from the tug. The passengers were deplaned on the ramp thru the air stair door.
Examination of the tug operator's training records revealed the tug operator was certififed on 10/15/2003 in accordance with Aircraft Service International Group and Air Tran Airways standards and operating procedures.
Examination of the airplane revealed 9 damaged ribs on the bottom side of the fuselage. The iris and four bolts were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. The fracture analysis of the iris revealed that the iris was bent out of the tow bar and the four bolts broke in a shear/overstress action.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N445AW
- Reported as
- Canadair CL-600-2B19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7804
- Engines
- Bombardier CF34-3B1, 8,729 lbs thrust, turbo fanBombardier CF34-3B1, 8,729 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MIA · Miami, FL
- Destination
- TPA · Tampa, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MIA · Miami International
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 9, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,846 total · 558 in this make and model · 987 as pilot in command · 214 in the last 90 days · 69 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 29, 2003
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 762 total · 399 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days · 88 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- MIA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.