# NTSB DCA21LA226: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N444ZW, Asheville, NC, September 17, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 17, 2021, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Asheville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.436199, -82.541802
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4362&lon=-82.5418&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 51 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: Air Wisconsin Airlines, FAA Office of Accident Investigation, AVP-100
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA21LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103922/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103922
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA21LA226

## Probable cause

The fuel truck driver backing up in the direction of the airplane without the use of marshallers.

## 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.

- [Prior to flight: 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

According to the flight crew, after pushback they received instructions from the ground controller to hold their position due to a 30-minute delay before takeoff. While they were holding, a fuel truck began backing up in their direction without the assistance of marshallers. The captain attempted to get the drivers attention by flashing the airplane’s landing lights. However, the fuel truck driver continued backing up and struck the airplane resulting in substantial damage to an area under the first officer’s window. The captain immediately shut down the right engine and made a public address announcement for the passengers to remain seated. Post-accident inspection revealed a hole in the forward fuselage of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444ZW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444ZW), registered now, S/N 7788, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B19
- 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: 7788
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 38506
- Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC, doing business as United Express
- Registered owner: Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 15, 2021
- Departed: KAVL, Asheville, NC
- Destination: KORD, Chicago, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AVL, Asheville Rgnl
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,039 total, 1,786 in this make and model, 1,688 as pilot in command, 226 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,665 total, 427 in this make and model, 1,158 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg

## 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 20210917014509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210917014509A), Sep 17, 2021: Bombardier Inc CL-600-2B19, Fletcher, NC, Substantial damage. On Friday September 17, 2021, at approximately 1339 local time, a [privacy data omitted] fuel truck, backed into [privacy data omitted]N444ZW), west of gate 3.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103922. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13097069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Employee statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13096324&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%27s_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.

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