# NTSB DEN03LA096: Embraer EMB-120ER, N299UX, Denver, CO, June 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2003, 17:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.863887, -104.666946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8639&lon=-104.6669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 27 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57136 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57136/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA096 ## Probable cause the ground personnel's failure to maintain aircraft/ground vehicle clearance, resulting in the collision. Contributing factors include ground communications not coordinated by the ground personnel and the airport vehicle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - clearance - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - air/ground communications - not coordinated/diseminated, ground personnel (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not possible, flightcrew (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was "following the ramp agent's marshalling signals" while parking the airplane. He initiated a right turn as signaled and stopped when he lost sight of the ramp agent. The ramp agent had bent down to move a set of wheel chocks. The ramp agent "came back into [the pilot's] view after a few seconds and gave [him] the command to continue [his] right turn." Once the turn was initiated, it "became difficult to move [the airplane] without having to use more power than should be required." The pilot stopped the airplane and upon exiting, discovered that the airplane had come in contact with one of the ramp vehicles." The airplane's right aft fuselage was crushed inward puncturing the aft cabin pressure bulkhead. The tug operator stated he had observed the airplane stop and thought it was finished parking and ready for service. He positioned the tug and baggage cart behind the airplane to unload baggage. The airplane began to move again and he was unable to move the tug before the collision occurred. The ramp agent did not see the tug move in behind the airplane prior to re-initiating the airplane turn. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2003, approximately 1740 mountain daylight time, an Embraer, EMB-120ER, N299UX, operated by Great Lakes Aviation as flight 5120, was substantially damaged when it struck a ramp vehicle while taxiing to its gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. The 2 airline transport pilots, 1 flight attendant, and 24 passengers were uninjured. The scheduled domestic flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 121 on an IFR flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated in Dickinson, North Dakota, at approximately 1530. According to the pilot, he was "following the ramp agent's marshalling signals" while parking the airplane in Zone 4 at DEN. The pilot initiated a right turn as signaled and stopped when he lost sight of the ramp agent. The ramp agent had bent down to move a set of wheel chocks. The ramp agent "came back into [the pilot's] view after a few seconds and gave [him] the command to continue [his] right turn." Once the turn was initiated, it "became difficult to move [the airplane] without having to use more power than should be required." The pilot stopped the airplane and, upon exiting, discovered that the airplane had come in contact with one of the ramp vehicles." The tug operator stated he had observed the airplane stop and thought it was finished with the parking and ready for service. He positioned the tug and baggage cart behind the airplane to unload baggage. The airplane began to move again and he was unable to move the vehicle before the collision occurred. The ramp agent did not see the tug move in behind the airplane prior to re-initiating the turn. The airplane's right aft fuselage was crushed inward puncturing the aft cabin pressure bulkhead. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N299UX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N299UX-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N 120.299 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Embraer EMB-120ER - Registry model: [Embraer EMB-120ER](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-120er) (registry code 3260203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw118) (registry code 52116, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 120299 - Airframe hours: 15157 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118B 1892 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118B 1892 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Great Lakes Aviation LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 31, 2003, 12 hours before - Departed: DIK, Dickinson, ND - Destination: DEN, Denver, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 15, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,993 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 2,566 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 15, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 1,005 total, 242 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: DEN ## 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 20030602011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030602011659A), Jun 2, 2003: Emb EMB120ER, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 2, 2003 at approximately 17:40 local time, great lakes airlines flight 5120 had landed at Denver International Airport and was taxiing into… ## Other investigations on N299UX (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 DEN06IA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06IA020), Nov 29, 2005: Embraer EMB-120ER (N299UX), Denver, CO, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the taxiway light. Factors contributing to the incident were the crew's inadequate visual lookout and the taxiway light. 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.