# NTSB DCA12CA035: Bombardier CL600 2B19, N912SW, San Francisco, CA, February 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 3, 2012, 17:05 local (Feb 4, 2012, 00:05 UTC) - Place: San Francisco, CA - Coordinates: 37.618888, -122.374725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6189&lon=-122.3747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 52 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: SkyWest Airlines - NTSB case key (mKey): 82833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA12CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82833/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82833 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12CA035 ## Probable cause the driver's failure to ensure that the belt loader was clear of the airplane before turning. ## 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: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 1,388 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) ## Analysis On February 3, 2012, about 1717 Pacific daylight time, SkyWest Airlines flight 6261, a Bombardier CL600-2B19, N912SW, was impacted by a belt loader at San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California, while parked at the gate and ready for pushback. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew members onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 as a scheduled domestic passenger flight to Mahlon Sweet Field Airport, Eugene, Oregon. After the boarding process was complete, the flight crew was informed that a belt loader had struck the airplane. According to the operator, the driver of the belt loader that had been parked at the rear cargo door believed there was sufficient room between the loader and the airplane to make a forward right turn instead of backing up. However, the front left corner of the loader impacted the airplane during the turn and caused substantial damage to the skin, stringers and a frame. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2012, about 1717 Pacific daylight time, SkyWest Airlines flight 6261, a Bombardier CL600-2B19, N912SW, was impacted by a belt loader at San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California, while parked at the gate and ready for pushback. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew members onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 as a scheduled domestic passenger flight to Mahlon Sweet Field Airport, Eugene, Oregon. After the boarding process was complete, the flight crew was informed that a belt loader had struck the airplane. According to the operator, the driver of the belt loader that had been parked at the rear cargo door believed there was sufficient room between the loader and the airplane to make a forward right turn instead of backing up. However, the front left corner of the loader impacted the airplane during the turn and caused substantial damage to the skin, stringers and a frame. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912SW), registered now, S/N 7595, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER CL600 2B19 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7595 - Airframe hours: 26289 - Engines: General Electric CF34-3B1 8729 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF34-3B1 8729 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: SkyWest Airlines - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank NA Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 7, 2012 - Departed: KSFO, San Francisco, CA - Destination: KEUG, Eugene, OR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KSFO, San Francisco International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 12,548 total, 4,233 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 6,034 total, 1,739 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SFO ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82833. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.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.