# NTSB NYC02LA146: Saab-Scania 340A, N110XJ, Charleston, WV, July 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2002, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Charleston, WV - Coordinates: 38.349765, -81.629203 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3498&lon=-81.6292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 35 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 17, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55278 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55278/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55278 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA146 ## Probable cause The vehicle driver's failure to maintain clearance of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis While the airplane was standing at the gate, with the engines not operating, the flightcrew requested that a ground power unit (GPU) be reconnected to the airplane. An employee on the ground drove a ground service vehicle, with a GPU attached, toward the airplane. As the ground service vehicle approached the airplane, it struck an aft section of fuselage. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2002, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Saab 340A, N110XJ, operated by Mesaba Aviation Inc. as Northwest Airlink flight 2742, was substantially damaged while standing at Yeager Airport (CRW), Charleston, West Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot, certificated commercial pilot, flight attendant, and 32 passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Detroit, Michigan. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was standing at the gate, and the passengers had already boarded. The engines were not operating, and the flightcrew requested that a ground power unit (GPU) be reconnected to the airplane. To facilitate their request, an employee on the ground drove a ground service vehicle, with a GPU attached, toward the airplane. As the ground service vehicle approached the airplane, it struck a section of fuselage, located aft of the airplane cargo compartment door. The impact resulted in an approximate 2-foot long, 7-inch wide tear in the skin of the fuselage, and damaged two frames of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N110XJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110XJ-2010-07-19), registration cancelled 2010-07-19, S/N 340A-110, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340A - Registry model: [Saab-Fairchild 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-fairchild-340a) (registry code 7850100) (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: 110 - Airframe hours: 31299 - Engines: General Electric CT7-5A2 1600 horsepower turbo prop; General Electric CT7-5A2 1600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mesaba Aviation Inc., doing business as Northwest Airlink - Registered owner: First Union Bank of NC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 10, 2002, 193 hours before - Departed: CRW, Charleston, WV - Destination: DTW, Detroit, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CRW, Yeager Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 17, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,800 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CRW ## 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 20020721016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020721016169A), Jul 21, 2002: Saab 340A, Charleston, WV, No damage. (.19) On July 21, 2002, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Saab 340A, N110XJ, operated by mesaba aviation inc. as northwest airlink flight 2742, was… ## Other investigations on N110XJ (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI02IA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02IA275), Sep 4, 2002: Saab-Scania 340A (N110XJ), Detroit, MI, incident, no damage. Probable cause: A malfunctioning yaw damper. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55278. 446 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463526&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-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.