- Date
- February 12, 2000, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Boston, MA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 9 uninjured; on the ground: 2 minor
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N357BESaab-Scania 340B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000212003239I
- Case key
- 51265
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 vehicle driver's inadequate visual lookout.
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
The driver of a catering truck became angry when his assistant was removed and reassigned to another position. He drove erratically, and struck the right wing of the airplane. The driver was charged with reckless driving by the Massachusetts State Police.
Factual narrative
On February 12, 2000, about 1845 Eastern Standard Time, a Saab 340B, N357BE, sustained minor damage when it was struck by a vehicle while standing, at General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. The airplane was operated by Business Express Airlines as flight 4703. There were no injuries to the 3 crewmembers, or 6 passengers; while 2 ground personnel received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined for Portland International Jetport, Portland, Maine. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.
The Director of Safety at Business Express stated that the airplane was parked at the gate, while passengers were boarding. Approximately 6 out of 15 passengers had boarded the airplane.
He added that a driver of a catering truck initially had an assistant in the truck. The assistant was removed, and assigned to another position. The driver became angry that he had to work without an assistant, drove erratically, and struck the right wing of the airplane. The driver, and a baggage handler loading the airplane, were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. The driver was charged with reckless driving by the Massachusetts State Police.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed damage to the right aileron and right wing spar cap.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N357BE
- Reported as
- Saab-Scania 340B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 340B-277
- Airframe hours
- 18,452
- Engine
- GE CT7-9B, 1,870 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Business Express Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 11, 2000 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- BOS
- Destination
- PWM · Portland, ME
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BOS · Logan Int'L Airport
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BOS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.