# NTSB NYC01LA023: Bombardier CL-600, N804CA, New York, NY, October 24, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2000, 21:20 local (Oct 24, 2000, 01:20 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.769203, -73.870635 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7692&lon=-73.8706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 81 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50537/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA023 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The Boeing captain's misjudgment of the distance between his airplane and the CRJ. A factor was the nighttime conditions. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The Boeing captain's misjudgment of the distance between his airplane and the CRJ. A factor was the nighttime conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ) was parked where two taxiways split. The parking brake was set, and the crew was waiting for airplanes ahead to move forward, along one of the taxiways. A Boeing 727 attempted to pass obliquely behind the CRJ, on the other taxiway. The Boeing captain was aware the CRJ's location, and believed he had adequate clearance. However, while proceeding, on taxiway centerline, the Boeing crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact over the radio. The Boeing's left wing had struck the CRJ's right winglet, from aft, forward. The accident occurred at night. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ) was stopped in an area where the taxiway split in two. The parking brake was set, and the crew was waiting for airplanes ahead to move forward, along one of the taxiways. A Boeing 727 attempted to pass obliquely behind the CRJ, on the other taxiway. The Boeing captain was aware the CRJ's location, and believed he had adequate clearance. However, while proceeding, on taxiway centerline, the Boeing crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact over the radio. The Boeing's left wing had struck the CRJ's right winglet, from aft, forward. The accident occurred at night. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On October 23, 2000, about 2120 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ), N804CA, operating as Comair flight 5958, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by another airplane, while stopped in a taxiway at La Guardia International Airport (LGA), New York, New York. The other airplane, a Boeing 727-214, N786AT, operating as American Trans Air (ATA) flight 596, sustained minor damage. None of the 3 crewmembers and 36 passengers aboard the CRJ were injured, nor were any of the 7 crewmembers and 35 passengers onboard the Boeing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The CRJ had an instrument rules flight plan on file to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky, and the Boeing had an instrument rules flight plan on file to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois. The passenger flights were to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. The accident occurred where Taxiway Bravo curved to the left, and Taxiway Papa split off straight ahead, in the vicinity of cross-Taxiway Golf Golf (GG). According to the pilot/operator report submitted by ATA, the ATA Boeing 727 was taxiing on one engine, about the speed of a brisk walk. There were "at least" two airplanes in front of the ATA flight, with the Comair CRJ being the first, and a DC-9 being the second. Initial taxi instructions to the ATA flight were to proceed along Taxiway Alpha, then Lima, then Bravo, and hold short of GG. Approaching GG, the ATA crew switched to another ground control frequency, per controller instructions. Just short of GG, the crew was cleared to taxi, "Bravo - Papa, hold short of Runway 22." The DC-9 that was ahead, turned off Bravo at Juliet. The CRJ continued along Bravo, to where Bravo and Papa split. The CRJ was facing away from the taxiway's original heading, at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. "Aware of the RJ's location, the [ATA] captain believed he had adequate distancing to proceed." Proceeding along Bravo, to Papa, on taxiway centerline, the crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact. The captain of the CRJ reported that he received taxi clearance to Runway 13. The clearance was to proceed via Zulu and Bravo, and hold short of GG. Shortly after passing Juliet, the crew was instructed to hold short of GG, and change frequency. On the new frequency, a new clearance was issued for the airplane to continue on Bravo, turn right on Foxtrot, then hold short of Runway 22. The captain also stated that due to traffic ahead, the crew would periodically stop the airplane, and set the parking brake until the line of airplanes advanced. While the airplane was stopped on Bravo, approximately abeam of GG, and with the parking brake on, the crew felt "an abrupt jolt/impact." Damage reported by the operators included left wing leading edge and slat damage to the Boeing 727, and right winglet damage to the CRJ, consistent with an impact that emanated aft, and proceeded forward. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On October 23, 2000, about 2120 Eastern Daylight Time, a Bombardier CL-600 Regional Jet (CRJ), N804CA, operating as Comair flight 5958, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by another airplane, while stopped in a taxiway at La Guardia International Airport (LGA), New York, New York. The other airplane, a Boeing 727-214, N786AT, operating as American Trans Air (ATA) flight 596, sustained minor damage. None of the 3 crewmembers and 36 passengers aboard the CRJ were injured, nor were any of the 7 crewmembers and 35 passengers onboard the Boeing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The CRJ had an instrument rules flight plan on file to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky, and the Boeing had an instrument rules flight plan on file to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois. The passenger flights were to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. The accident occurred where Taxiway Bravo curved to the left, and Taxiway Papa split off straight ahead, in the vicinity of cross-Taxiway Golf Golf (GG). According to the pilot/operator report submitted by ATA, the ATA Boeing 727 was taxiing on one engine, about the speed of a brisk walk. There were "at least" two airplanes in front of the ATA flight, with the Comair CRJ being the first, and a DC-9 being the second. Initial taxi instructions to the ATA flight were to proceed along Taxiway Alpha, then Lima, then Bravo, and hold short of GG. Approaching GG, the ATA crew switched to another ground control frequency, per controller instructions. Just short of GG, the crew was cleared to taxi, "Bravo - Papa, hold short of Runway 22." The DC-9 that was ahead, turned off Bravo at Juliet. The CRJ continued along Bravo, to where Bravo and Papa split. The CRJ was facing away from the taxiway's original heading, at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. "Aware of the RJ's location, the [ATA] captain believed he had adequate distancing to proceed." Proceeding along Bravo, to Papa, on taxiway centerline, the crew felt a slight bump. They believed it was a seam in the concrete, but then heard the CRJ crew report the impact. The captain of the CRJ reported that he received taxi clearance to Runway 13. The clearance was to proceed via Zulu and Bravo, and hold short of GG. Shortly after passing Juliet, the crew was instructed to hold short of GG, and change frequency. On the new frequency, a new clearance was issued for the airplane to continue on Bravo, turn right on Foxtrot, then hold short of Runway 22. The captain also stated that due to traffic ahead, the crew would periodically stop the airplane, and set the parking brake until the line of airplanes advanced. While the airplane was stopped on Bravo, approximately abeam of GG, and with the parking brake on, the crew felt "an abrupt jolt/impact." Damage reported by the operators included left wing leading edge and slat damage to the Boeing 727, and right winglet damage to the CRJ, consistent with an impact that emanated aft, and proceeded forward. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N804CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804CA-2012-04-03), registration cancelled 2012-04-03, S/N 7352, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier CL-600 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF-34-1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf-34-1a) (registry code 30033, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7352 - Engines: GE CF34-3B1 9220 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Comair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: LGA - Destination: CVG, COVINGTON, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LGA, La Guardia ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N786AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N786AT-2011-07-05), registration cancelled 2011-07-05, S/N 21692, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 727-214 - Registry model: [Boeing 727-214](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-214) (registry code 138407R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21692 - Airframe hours: 56593 - Engines: P&W JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: American Trans Air - Registered owner: Suntrust Bank - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 19, 2000, 13 hours before - Departed: LGA - Destination: MDW, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LGA, La Guardia ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N804CA; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,362 total, 1,794 in this make and model, 83 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N786AT; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,300 total, 2,479 in this make and model, 156 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LGA ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001023040649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001023040649A), Oct 23, 2000: Cndair CL6002B19, New York, NY, No damage. (-23) On October 23, 2000, at 2123 EST, American trans air (ata) flight 596, a Boeing 727-200 (N786AT), was being taxied for take-off at laguardia airport… - [Accident 20001023016259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001023016259A), Oct 23, 2000: Boeing 727214, New York, NY, No damage. (-23) On October 23, 2000, at 2123 EST, American trans air (ata) flight 596, a Boeing 727-200 (N786AT), was being taied for take-off at laguardia airport… 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.