# NTSB DCA16CA139: Bombardier CL 600 2B19, N961SW, San Francisco, CA, April 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 28, 2016, 22:52 local (Apr 29, 2016, 05:52 UTC) - Place: San Francisco, CA - Coordinates: 37.618888, -122.375556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6189&lon=-122.3756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 30 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 93084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA16CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA16CA139 ## Probable cause The tug driver's failure to comply with the wing walkers direction to stop, which resulted in the towed airplane colliding with N961SW. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Towing and taxiing: towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis On April 28, 2016, about 2252 pacific daylight time, SkyWest Airlines flight 5260, N961SW, a Canadair CRJ-200, was struck after being pushed back from the gate by an airplane that was being towed by maintenance personnel at San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), San Francisco, California. There were no injuries and both airplanes received substantial damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from KSFO to Meadows Field Airport (KBFL), Bakersfield, California. After having been pushed back from the gate, N961SW was awaiting taxi clearance with engines operating and the parking brake set when it was struck by the Boeing 777 that was being reposition under tow. The tug driver that was pushing the Boeing 777indicated that he saw wing walkers on both sides and began to push back. He stated that he never saw any signal from the wing walker's signal wands indicating to stop. The left wing walker stated that the tow driver started pushing the Boeing 777 in reverse before asking if he and the other walkers were ready stating, that the airplane "was halfway out of the gate before I could react." He stated that, after the airplane entered the roadway, he notice that the tug driver was not slowing down as he approached N961SW. The left wing walk made an "X" with his signal wands and then started jumping up and down and moving to better location to be seen. The Boeing 777's lower left fuselage contacted the right stabilizer of N961SW resulting in substantial damage to the stabilizer and right elevator. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2016, about 2252 pacific daylight time, SkyWest Airlines flight 5260, N961SW, a Canadair CRJ-200, was struck after being pushed back from the gate by an airplane that was being towed by maintenance personnel at San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), San Francisco, California. There were no injuries and both airplanes received substantial damage. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from KSFO to Meadows Field Airport (KBFL), Bakersfield, California. After having been pushed back from the gate, N961SW was awaiting taxi clearance with engines operating and the parking brake set when it was struck by the Boeing 777 that was being reposition under tow. The tug driver that was pushing the Boeing 777indicated that he saw wing walkers on both sides and began to push back. He stated that he never saw any signal from the wing walker's signal wands indicating to stop. The left wing walker stated that the tow driver started pushing the Boeing 777 in reverse before asking if he and the other walkers were ready stating, that the airplane "was halfway out of the gate before I could react." He stated that, after the airplane entered the roadway, he notice that the tug driver was not slowing down as he approached N961SW. The left wing walk made an "X" with his signal wands and then started jumping up and down and moving to better location to be seen. The Boeing 777's lower left fuselage contacted the right stabilizer of N961SW resulting in substantial damage to the stabilizer and right elevator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N961SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N961SW), registered now, S/N 7857, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL 600 2B19 (100) - 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: 7857 - Year built: 2003 - Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 horsepower turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Skywest Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Skywest Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: SFO, San Francisco, CA - Destination: Bakersfield, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SFO, San Francisco International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,310 total, 733 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,651 total, 1,383 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93084. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8562796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20for%20DCA16CA139_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Employee statements - ramp personnel (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8563235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements%20from%20Ramp%20personnel_Redacted-Rel.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.