# NTSB DCA15CA118: Bombardier CL600 2D24, N932LR, Phoenix, AZ, May 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 4, 2015, 14:10 UTC - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.4375, -111.993888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4375&lon=-111.9939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 79 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 91139 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA15CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91139/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91139 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA15CA118 ## Probable cause the CRJ900 captain's misjudgment of the clearance between their horizontal stabilizer and the B757 winglet. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 3,101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1390016), [All aircraft, 620 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis On May 4, 2015, at about 1410 UTC time, Mesa Airlines flight 5612, a CRJ900, N932LR, collided with a parked US Airways B757, while taxiing in the gate area of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX). The left horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ900 was substantially damaged when it struck the left winglet of the B757. There were no injuries to the 81 passengers and crew onboard the CRJ900. The B757 received minor damage and there were no persons aboard. Flight 5612 was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Par 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Albuquerque International Sunport (KABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico, to KPHX. After landing in KABQ, the crew were notified via ACARS that their arrival gate had changed from B7 to B21. After arriving at the gate area, the crew inadvertently lined up with gate B23 and awaited marshallers. As the marshallers arrived, the crew noticed that they were aligned with the wrong gate and that a left turn to enter gate B21 was not possible due to ground obstructions. As a result, the flight crew decided to perform a right turn to return to the ramp area and then enter gate B23. The B757 was parked to the right of the CRJ900 at gate B25, and was aligned at about a 45 degree angle relative to the other parking configurations. As they reached approximately 90 degrees in the turn, the first officer (FO) advised the captain they were getting too close to the wing of the B757. The captain proceeded to slowly complete the right turn to exit the gate but the flight crew then felt a shudder and the FO noted possible damage to the winglet of the B757. The CRJ900 continued its taxi to the proper gate and all passengers deplaned normally. After engine shutdown, the captain exited the airplane to assess any damage to the CRJ900 and noticed the horizontal stabilizer leading edge was substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2015, at about 1410 UTC time, Mesa Airlines flight 5612, a CRJ900, N932LR, collided with a parked US Airways B757, while taxiing in the gate area of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX). The left horizontal stabilizer of the CRJ900 was substantially damaged when it struck the left winglet of the B757. There were no injuries to the 81 passengers and crew onboard the CRJ900. The B757 received minor damage and there were no persons aboard. Flight 5612 was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Par 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Albuquerque International Sunport (KABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico, to KPHX. After landing in KABQ, the crew were notified via ACARS that their arrival gate had changed from B7 to B21. After arriving at the gate area, the crew inadvertently lined up with gate B23 and awaited marshallers. As the marshallers arrived, the crew noticed that they were aligned with the wrong gate and that a left turn to enter gate B21 was not possible due to ground obstructions. As a result, the flight crew decided to perform a right turn to return to the ramp area and then enter gate B23. The B757 was parked to the right of the CRJ900 at gate B25, and was aligned at about a 45 degree angle relative to the other parking configurations. As they reached approximately 90 degrees in the turn, the first officer (FO) advised the captain they were getting too close to the wing of the B757. The captain proceeded to slowly complete the right turn to exit the gate but the flight crew then felt a shudder and the FO noted possible damage to the winglet of the B757. The CRJ900 continued its taxi to the proper gate and all passengers deplaned normally. After engine shutdown, the captain exited the airplane to assess any damage to the CRJ900 and noticed the horizontal stabilizer leading edge was substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N932LR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N932LR), registered now, S/N 15032, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier CL600 2D24 (900) - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2D24](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2d24) (registry code 1390016) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15032 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 24875.63 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8C5 13360 lbs thrust turbo fan; Genereal Electric CF34-8C5 13360 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mesa Airlines, doing business as American Eagle - Registered owner: Mesa Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 3, 2015 - Departed: KABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Destination: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 2,609 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,545 as pilot in command, 127 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2014; seat: right; flight hours: 1,946 total, 325 in this make and model, 253 as pilot in command, 141 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KPHX ## 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 20150504005862A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150504005862A), May 4, 2015: Bombardier Inc CL-600-2D24, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. The mesa airlines aircraft had operated as flight 5612 from abq to phx. Upon arrival, the flight crew inadvertently began a right turn into gate B23, where in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91139. 680 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - Capt (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Capt-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement- FO (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-%20FO-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.