# NTSB DCA17CA197: Bombardier CL 600 2B19, N261PS, Charlotte, NC, September 13, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2017, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.130001, -80.559997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1300&lon=-80.5600&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 34 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 96040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA17CA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17CA197 ## Probable cause the tug operator's initiation of a right turn onto the perpendicular terminal road in proximity to the airplane. ## 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, 1,386 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. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis On September 13, 2017, at 3:45 pm eastern daylight time, PSA Airlines flight 5233, a Bombardier CRJ-200, N261PS, collided with a TLD Jet-16 baggage tug operated by Piedmont Airlines while taxiing at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and the tug canopy section was damaged. The tug driver was seriously injured and there were no injuries to the 34 passengers and crew onboard the CRJ-200. Weather was daytime visual meteorological conditions. After landing on runway 18R, the airplane was instructed to taxi to Gate E4. While taxiing in a narrow alleyway near the north end of concourse E, between the concourse and the baggage transfer point, the ground tug impacted the left wingtip. The tug was driving on non-movement area of the terminal ramp. The baggage tug was slightly in front of the aircraft at about a 10 o'clock position to the captain of the aircraft. A terminal road crosses the taxi alleyway from near Gate E38 to the beginning of area designated as the baggage transfer point. The transfer point is located outside the alleyway and is lined with concrete barriers. Airplane taxi within the alleyway and ground equipment travel perpendicular to aircraft movement when accessing the transfer point. As the tug turned onto the service road and began to cross the roadway he noticed the airplane taxing in the alley. The driver indicated that, in order to avoid a collision, he tightened his right turn in the opposite direction the airplane was traveling before colliding with the left hand wing. The canopy of the baggage tug was sheared off and the leading edge and winglet of the airplane was substantially damaged. The final resting place of the tug was just behind the trailing edge of the wing. There were skid marks from the airplane tires consistent with maximum braking starting when the airplane made contact with the baggage tug. According to airline ground movement procedures, an airplane on the non-movement area always has the right of way. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2017, at 3:45 pm eastern daylight time, PSA Airlines flight 5233, a Bombardier CRJ-200, N261PS, collided with a TLD Jet-16 baggage tug operated by Piedmont Airlines while taxiing at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (KCLT), Charlotte, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and the tug canopy section was damaged. The tug driver was seriously injured and there were no injuries to the 34 passengers and crew onboard the CRJ-200. Weather was daytime visual meteorological conditions. After landing on runway 18R, the airplane was instructed to taxi to Gate E4. While taxiing in a narrow alleyway near the north end of concourse E, between the concourse and the baggage transfer point, the ground tug impacted the left wingtip. The tug was driving on non-movement area of the terminal ramp. The baggage tug was slightly in front of the aircraft at about a 10 o'clock position to the captain of the aircraft. A terminal road crosses the taxi alleyway from near Gate E38 to the beginning of area designated as the baggage transfer point. The transfer point is located outside the alleyway and is lined with concrete barriers. Airplane taxi within the alleyway and ground equipment travel perpendicular to aircraft movement when accessing the transfer point. As the tug turned onto the service road and began to cross the roadway he noticed the airplane taxing in the alley. The driver indicated that, in order to avoid a collision, he tightened his right turn in the opposite direction the airplane was traveling before colliding with the left hand wing. The canopy of the baggage tug was sheared off and the leading edge and winglet of the airplane was substantially damaged. The final resting place of the tug was just behind the trailing edge of the wing. There were skid marks from the airplane tires consistent with maximum braking starting when the airplane made contact with the baggage tug. According to airline ground movement procedures, an airplane on the non-movement area always has the right of way. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N261PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N261PS-2025-12-09), registration cancelled 2025-12-09, S/N 7959, built 2004 (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: 7959 - Year built: 2004 - Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 horsepower turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Psa Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Afs Investments 71 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: CRW, Charleston, WV - Destination: CLT, Charlotte, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLT, Charlotte/Douglas Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,837 total, 192 in this make and model - Co-pilot; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 29,440 total, 1,025 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Observed at: CLT ## 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 20170913019339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170913019339A), Sep 13, 2017: Bombardier Inc CL-600-2B19, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. On September 13th, 2017 at 1545 (EDT) a Bombardier CRJ-200 operated by psa airlines flight 5233 collided with a baggage tug operated by psa airlines during… ## Other investigations on N261PS (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 DCA13IA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA13IA058), Feb 7, 2013: Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (N261PS), Bowman, GA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: the captain's inappropriate climb speed, his failure to monitor airspeed during the level off, and his inappropriate response to multiple stall warnings. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96040. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1-Piedmont (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Piedmont-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1-PSA (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-PSA-Master.PDF - PSA Crew Statements (item 3, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PSA%20Crew%20Statements-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.