# NTSB FTW02LA094: Cessna 402C, N596DM, Albuquerque, NM, March 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2002, 19:02 local (Mar 14, 2002, 02:02 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.040279, -106.609169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0403&lon=-106.6092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54343 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54343/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54343 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA094 ## Probable cause The failure of the tug driver to stop at the stop sign resulting in a collision with a taxiing airplane. A contributing factor was the dark night light conditions. ## 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 - airport operations - not followed, driver of vehicle (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis After the dark night landing, the airplane exited the runway onto the taxiway. After exiting the runway, the pilot stopped the airplane, retracted the flaps, turned off the landing light, and radioed ground control for clearance to taxi to parking. After receiving clearance, the pilot began taxiing to parking with the taxi lights on. As the airplane neared an access road intersection on the taxiway, the pilot observed a vehicle to his left stopped at the northbound stop sign. The pilot did not see any traffic to his right at the southbound stop sign. As the airplane entered the intersection, the pilot caught a flash of light to his right. A baggage tug, with only the right head light illuminated, struck the airplane's right wing. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2002, at 1902 mountain standard time, a Cessna 402C twin-engine airplane, N596DM, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a baggage tug while taxiing at the Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The aircraft was registered to the Distribution Management Corp., and was being operated by Aero Charter & Transport, both of Albuquerque. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, and the driver of the tug were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. The flight originated from Gallup, New Mexico, at 1821. The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that after landing on runway 21, he exited the runway onto taxiway F1 (Foxtrot One). On the taxiway, he stopped the airplane, retracted the flaps, turned off the landing light, and contacted ground control for a clearance to taxi to parking. After receiving the clearance, he began taxiing on F1 to parking while following the yellow centerline with the taxi lights on. As the airplane neared an access road intersection, he observed a vehicle to his left stopped at the northbound stop sign. He did not see any traffic to his right at the southbound stop sign. As the airplane entered the intersection, he caught a flash of light to his right. A baggage tug, with only the right head light illuminated, struck the airplane's right wing. He continued taxiing out of the intersection and parked the airplane. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the outboard two feet of the airplane's right wing was separated, the underside of the right wing was rippled, and the right aileron was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N596DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N596DM), registered now, S/N 402C0255 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0255 - Airframe hours: 12524 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Aero Charter & Transport - Registered owner: Distribution Management Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 27, 2002, 41 hours before - Departed: GUP, Gallup, NM - Destination: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl, runway 21, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,240 total, 72 in this make and model, 4,542 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.61 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## 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 20020313003439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020313003439A), Mar 13, 2002: Cessna 402C, Albuquerque, NM, No damage. (.19) On March 13, 2002, at 1902 mountain standard time, a Cessna 402C twin-engine airplane, N596DM, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a baggage… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54343. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airport Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Telephone interview with the pilot. (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20interview%20with%20the%20pilot.%20%20-Master.PDF - Telephone interview with the chief pilot. (item 4, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20interview%20with%20the%20chief%20pilot.-Master.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. --- 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.