DEN06IA020

NTSB incident investigation · Embraer EMB-120ER · Denver, CO · November 29, 2005

Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal report
Date
November 28, 2005, 17:35 local (Nov 29, 2005, 00:35 UTC)
Place
Denver, CO
Injuries
7 uninjured
Damage
Minor damage
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N299UXEmbraer EMB-120ER
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report April 25, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20051128033419I
Case key
62892

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.

On this page

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.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi - from landing
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequateFlightcrewFactor
Object - taxiway lightFactor
Light condition - dusk

Analysis

The captain reported that after landing, he turned onto what he thought was a 90-degree taxiway. He said that he "cut the corner too tight resulting in the left propeller striking a taxiway light." An examination of the airplane showed no anomalies which could have contributed to the incident.

Factual narrative

On November 28, 2005, approximately 1735 mountain standard time, an Embraer EMB-120ER, N299UX, operating as Great Lakes Airlines, Flight 708, sustained minor damage when it struck a taxiway light with its right propeller at the Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. The airplane was taxiing to parking after landing when the incident occurred. The scheduled, domestic passenger flight from Riverton, Wyoming, to DEN 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 five passengers on board the airplane were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The flight originated approximately 1630.

The captain reported that after landing on runway 34R, he turned onto what he thought was a 90-degree taxiway. He said he "cut the corner too tight resulting in the right propeller striking a taxiway light."

The first officer stated that she was switching radio frequencies and when she looked up, realized that they were too close. She said it was too late.

An examination of the airplane showed leading edge damage to one blade on the right propeller. The top of the taxi light at Taxiway F-4 was sheared off. No other damage was found. An examination of the airplane showed no anomalies which could have contributed to the incident.

Aircraft

Registration
N299UX
Reported as
Embraer EMB-120ER
Category
Airplane
Serial number
120.299
Engines
Pratt & Whitney PW118, 2,000 horsepower, turbo propPratt & Whitney PW118, 2,000 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
RIV · Riverton, WY
Destination
DEN · Denver, CO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
DEN · Denver International Airport, runway 34R, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,565 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 190 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
26
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,300 total · 76 in this make and model · 76 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
360° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
25 °F, dew point 3 °F
Altimeter
29.87 inHg
Observed at
DEN, 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.

Other investigations on N299UX · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.