# NTSB DEN06IA019: Beech 1900D, N253GL, Telluride, CO, November 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2005, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Telluride, CO - Coordinates: 37.953887, -107.908607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9539&lon=-107.9086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 19 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62883 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06IA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62883/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06IA019 ## Probable cause The tug driver's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the airplane resulting in the baggage cart striking the airplane's stabilon. A factor contributing to the incident was the tug driver's failure to consider the extra height of the cart in relation to the other carts used on the airport. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) not operating - clearance - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - equipment,other - not recognized, ground personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was parked with the engines shut down, the parking brake set, and the wheels chocked. The captain said that they kept the passengers on board until some of the bags were off loaded from the aft baggage compartment so as not to overload the landing gear struts. The captain said that they opened the door and he got off to meet the agent. The agent approached the airplane driving a tug that was pulling a baggage cart. The captain said, "While turning the corner to line up the baggage cart with the airplane, the baggage cart struck and damaged the left-hand stabilon." The baggage cart that was used was new and taller than those previously used at the airport. This was the first time the agent had pulled this cart. The agent said he drove clockwise around the airplane to position the cart to unload the baggage. He said that he was close enough to the airplane that the top right corner of the baggage cart hit the stabilon. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2005, approximately 1515 mountain standard time, a Beech 1900D, N253GL, operating as Great Lakes Airlines, Flight 5087, sustained minor damage when it was struck by a baggage cart at the Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), Telluride, Colorado. The scheduled, domestic passenger flight from Denver, Colorado, to TEX was being conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The captain, first officer and 17 passengers on board the airplane were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. According to the captain, they were parked with engines shut down, the parking brake set, and the wheels chocked. He said they kept the passengers on board until some of the bags were off loaded from the aft baggage compartment so as not to overload the landing gear struts. The captain said they opened the door and he got off to meet the agent. The agent approached the airplane driving a tug that was pulling a baggage cart. The captain said, "While turning the corner to line up the baggage cart with the airplane, the baggage cart struck and damaged the left-hand stabilon." According to the agent driving the tug, he said that the baggage cart he was towing was new and taller when compared to the 2 trailers they had been using at TEX. He said that this was the first time he had towed this cart. The agent said he drove clockwise around the airplane to position the cart to unload the baggage. He said that he was close enough to the airplane that the top right corner of the baggage cart hit the stabilon. Inspection of the airplane revealed a crack in the lower aft outboard section of the left stabilon. No other damage was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N253GL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N253GL), registered now, S/N UE-253, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 1900D - Registry model: [Raytheon 1900D](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-1900d) (registry code 7150005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UE253 - Airframe hours: 19524 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A 750 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT-6A 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Great Lakes Aviation, LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 1, 2005 - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: TEX, Telluride, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TEX, Telluride Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 7,035 total, 6,495 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 990 total, 97 in this make and model, 97 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: TEX, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20051123027839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051123027839I), Nov 23, 2005: Beech 1900D, Telluride, CO, Minor damage. (-23) After landing and while parked on the ramp with the engines shut down and just before the passengers were to begin deplaning a tug operator pulling a… ## Other investigations on N253GL (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 DEN07LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA101), Jun 20, 2007: Beech 1900D (N253GL), Laramie, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision, his misjudgment of his speed and distance, and his failure to perform a go-around resulting in the airplane overrunning the runway and striking an electrical box.… 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.