# NTSB NYC00LA269: Saab 340B, N241AE, Boston, MA, September 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2000, 19:38 local (23:38 UTC) - Place: Boston, MA - Location: 42.3629° N, 71.0064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (BOS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3629&lon=-71.0064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 26 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA269 ## Probable cause The operator's loss of control of the belt-loader, due to his improper decision to depress the vehicle's accelerator in the proximity of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - miscellaneous equipment - uncontrolled, driver of vehicle (cause) - improper decision, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was chocked, the left engine was secured, and the right engine was running. The seat belt sign had been turned off, and the passengers were standing for debarkation. A belt-loader initially stopped about 10 feet from the airplane, then proceeded toward the cargo door area at a high rate of speed. The operator jumped from the loader, and the loader's vertical fin sliced through the underside of the airplane. The operator stated that when he had tried to move the belt-loader closer, he first moved the control stick to forward. The belt loader did not move, so he pushed on the accelerator. The belt loader then proceeded quickly toward the airplane, so he jumped off. Post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2000, at 1938 Eastern Daylight Time, a Saab 340B, N241AE, operating as American Eagle flight 4998, was substantially damaged when a baggage belt-loader collided with it, while it was parked, at General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts. There were no injuries to the 3-person crew, the 23 passengers, or the operator of the belt-loader. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, between Montreal Dorval Airport (YUL), Montreal, Quebec, and Boston. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a company debrief report, when the accident occurred, the airplane was chocked, the left engine was secured, and the right engine was running. The seat belt sign had been turned off, and the passengers were standing. Witnesses reported that the belt-loader initially stopped about 10 feet from the airplane, then proceeded toward the cargo door area at a high rate of speed. The operator jumped from the loader, and the loader's vertical fin sliced through the underside of the airplane. The loader subsequently came to a stop when it impacted a lavatory cart on the other side of the airplane. The operator of the belt-loader stated that when he initially lifted the belt, he saw that it was too far from the cargo door, and decided to move the loader closer. "I sit down and pulled the stick to forward...the belt loader did not move so I pushed the accelerator and when I knew the belt loader moved very fast, I tried to get off the seat, but it was too late...." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the loader's "dorsal fin" had cut through the fuselage for about 8 feet. Post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N241AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N241AE-2006-08-02), registration cancelled 2006-08-02, S/N 340B-241 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Saab 340B - Registry model: [Saab-Scania SAAB 340B](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-saab-340b) (registry code 7860101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CT7-SER series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-ct7-ser-series) (registry code 30031, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 241 - Airframe hours: 21883 - Engines: GE CT79B 1870 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Eagle Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: YUL, MONTREAL - Destination: BOS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOS, Gen Edwrd Lawr Logan Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; 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: 4,376 total, 476 in this make and model, 196 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOS 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.