- Date
- January 30, 1989, 15:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Injuries
- 16 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N169SWSwearingen SA-227-ACN2685LFairchild SA-227-AC
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19890130003211A19890130003212A
- Case key
- 17578
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of captain of N169SW to maintain a visual lookout while taxiing his aircraft allowing his aircraf to creep into the stationary aircraft in front of him.
The failure of the captain to maintain a visual lookout while taxiing his aircraft, inadvertently allowing his aircraft to creep into the stationary aircraft in front of him.
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.
Analysis
While waiting in line for the aircraft in front to move toward the takeoff area, the aircraft was run into by a company aircraft behind it. The captain of the other aircraft stated that without realizing it, his aircraft began to creep up on the preceding aircraft until the right engine propeller struck the tail of the preceding aircraft causing substantial damage to both aircraft.
The captain stated that he was cleared by ATC ground control to proceed in a taxi line of 10 aircraft that were waiting for takeoff. Progress was slow as the aircraft moved and then stopped and moved again. After about 20-30 minutes of taxiing, the two subject aircraft came to a stop again. The captain said that without realizing it, his aircraft began to creep up on the preceding aircraft until the right engine propeller struck the tail of the proceding aircraft causing substantial damage to both aircraft. The captain stated that he was at the controls at the time of the collision and could not recall what was occupying his attention prior to the collision. Post accident examination failed to reveal any malfunction of the brake system.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N169SW
- Reported as
- Swearingen SA-227-AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AC-558
- Airframe hours
- 12,201
- Engine
- Garrett TPE 331-11UA, 1,000 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- James D. Gazonas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · January 12, 1989 · 19 hours before
- Destination
- RKS · Rock Springs, WY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SLC · Salt Lake City Intl, runway 16, 12,003 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Registration
- N2685L
- Reported as
- Fairchild SA-227-AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AC-648
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331 11UA, 1,000 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Provident Bank Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Destination
- JAX · Jackson, WY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SLC · Salt Lake City Intl, runway 16, 12,003 × 150 ft, asphalt
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, aircraft N169SW
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,512 total · 4,012 in this make and model · 11,545 as pilot in command · 246 in the last 90 days · 81 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N2685L
- Age
- 31
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,550 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SLC, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.