# NTSB CHI06LA092: Saab-Scania 340B, N421XJ, Alpena, MI, March 14, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2006, 22:15 local (Mar 14, 2006, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Alpena, MI - Coordinates: 45.078056, -83.560279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0781&lon=-83.5603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 14 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Mesaba Airlines, FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63412/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA092 ## Probable cause The station agent's inability to maintain control of the stroller when he lost his balance exiting the airplane's cargo compartment, allowing it to be blown into the operating right propeller. A factor was the high, gusty winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) operating - miscellaneous, ground personnel (cause) - object - other (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when a baby stroller being off-loaded from the cargo compartment inadvertently entered the right propeller arc and was struck by the operating propeller. The operator reported that after the airplane's engines had been started, it was discovered that a baby stroller had not been off-loaded. The station agents notified the captain, who shut down the left engine. An agent accessed the cargo compartment, located at the left, rear portion of the airplane. While he was exiting the compartment, the station agent lost his balance and dropped the stroller onto the ramp. The stroller landed on its wheels and was blown under the fuselage by the wind and into the right main landing gear. The stroller was subsequently blown forward into the right propeller arc, where the operating propeller struck it. Fragments from the stroller impacted the airplane's fuselage, puncturing three holes and causing several dents in the pressurized fuselage. The wind speed was about 20 knots, gusting to 31 knots, at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2006, about 2215 eastern standard time, a Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340B, N421XJ, operated by Mesaba Airlines, was substantially damaged prior to departure from Alpena County Regional Airport (APN), Alpena, Michigan. The domestic air carrier flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The 11 passengers and 3 crewmembers were not injured. No ground personnel were injured. The scheduled passenger flight was preparing to depart APN, with an intended destination of Chippewa County International Airport (CIU), Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The operator reported that after the airplane's engines had been started, it was discovered that a baby stroller for an APN passenger had not been off-loaded. The station agents notified the captain, who shut down the left engine. An agent accessed the cargo compartment, located at the left, rear portion of the airplane. However, while he was exiting the compartment, the station agent lost his balance and dropped the stroller onto the ramp. The stroller landed on its wheels and was blown under the fuselage by the wind and into the right main landing gear. The stroller was subsequently blown forward into the right propeller arc, where the operating propeller struck it. Fragments from the stroller impacted the airplane's fuselage, puncturing three holes and causing several dents in the pressurized fuselage. The operator reported surface winds at the time as from 240 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 31 knots. The APN routine weather observation (METAR), taken at 2154, recorded winds from 240 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 27 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N421XJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340B-421 - Engines: General Electric CT7-9B turbo prop; General Electric CT7-9B turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mesaba Aviation Inc., doing business as Northwest Airlink - Registered owner: NationsBanc Leasing Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: APN, Alpena, MI - Destination: CIU, Sault Ste Marie, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: APN, Alpena County Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left - Co-pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 240° at 17 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.15 inHg - Observed at: APN ## 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 20060313011099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060313011099A), Mar 13, 2006: Saab 340B, Alpena, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) During off loading the ground agent dropped a stroller while descending a ladder used to gain access to the cargo compartment. The stroller landed on… 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.