# NTSB CEN16LA052: Cessna 208B, N732MD, Chicago, IL, November 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2015, 19:25 local (Nov 3, 2015, 01:25 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.830928, -87.680725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8309&lon=-87.6807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO ORD - NTSB case key (mKey): 92399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92399/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92399 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA052 ## Probable cause The failure of the driver of the service vehicle to yield to the taxiing airplane, which resulted in a near-collision and tail strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing in night visual meteorological conditions, the commuter flight proceeded to taxi to the ramp. Upon coming to a service road perpendicular to the taxiway, a vehicle moved directly across the airplane's taxi path. The flight crew immediately applied brakes to stop. While braking, the airplane's tail rocked aft and struck the ground. The flight crew contacted ground control to inform them about the vehicle incident and resumed taxi to the ramp, and the driver of the vehicle radioed the tower, informing them that he had cut off an aircraft. An inspection of the airplane by the operator revealed structural damage to the aft pressure bulkhead resulting from the tail strike. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2015, about 1925 central standard time, a Cessna 208 Caravan, N732MD, registered to Multi-Aero Inc., of Sarasota, Florida, and doing business as Air Choice One of St. Louis, Missouri, was substantially damaged during taxi after braking to avoid a ground vehicle at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The pilot, co-pilot, and seven passengers were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was being operated as a commuter passenger flight under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 135. The flight had originated from Ironwood, Michigan (IWD), and ORD was its final destination. After landing on Runway 27 at ORD, the flight crew proceeded to taxi to the ramp via Taxiway R. Upon coming to a service road perpendicular to the taxiway, a vehicle moved directly across their taxi path. The flight crew immediately applied brakes to stop. While braking, the airplane's tail section stuck the ground before stabilizing back to a normal stance on the landing gear. The flight crew contacted ground control to inform them about the vehicle incident and resumed taxi to the ramp. According to a report by the FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene, the driver of the service vehicle (OPS 11) had radioed the tower on frequency 120.75. The driver stated that he just cut off an aircraft on taxiway R. A few minutes later, the driver radioed on frequency 129.9 and reported that he was sorry. Both the pilot-in-command, and the first officer reported that they were cut off by the service vehicle and stopped the aircraft immediately to avoid collision. A special fight permit was issued by the FAA to ferry the aircraft from ORD to the company repair facility in St. Louis, Missouri, to accomplish repairs. As reported on NTSB Form 6120, an inspection of the airplane by the operator revealed structural damage to the aft pressure bulkhead. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N732MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N732MD), registered now, S/N 208B1083, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B1083 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 16329 - Engines: P&W PT6A SER 875 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Multi-Aero Inc, doing business as Air Choice One - Registered owner: Multi-Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 29, 2015 - Departed: IWD, Ironwood, MI - Destination: ORD, Chicago, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare International - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,274 total, 3,814 in this make and model, 8,017 as pilot in command, 362 in the last 90 days, 232 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 574 total, 150 in this make and model, 344 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ORD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20151103022859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151103022859A), Nov 3, 2015: Cessna 208B, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. N732MD was taxing on taxiway ?r?, approaching the runway intersection. The pilot observed a service truck approaching the same intersection. He applied brakes… ## Other investigations on N732MD (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 CEN13LA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA421), Jul 17, 2013: Cessna 208B (N732MD), Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The gate agent’s premature removal of the tailstand without confirming with the flight crew that it was safe to remove, which allowed the airplane to tilt backward when a passenger stood up and… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92399. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - PIC Statement (item 2, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PIC%20Statement-Master.PDF - First Officer Statement (item 3, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453913&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=First%20Officer%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 5 photos, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram with Taxiways (item 6, .PDF, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram%20with%20Taxiways-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.