- Date
- February 1, 2004, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Injuries
- 22 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N158SDSaab-Scania 340A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040201003099A
- Case key
- 58695
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the baggage cart E-hitch pin, which resulted in the baggage cart separating from its tug, and subsequently impacting a parked airplane.
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 airplane was parked at the gate, when a baggage cart became disconnected from the tug which was towing it, and impacted the left side of the fuselage. Examination of the tug revealed a broken E-hitch pin where the baggage cart became disconnected.
Factual narrative
On February 1, 2004, at 1700 eastern standard time, a Saab 340A, N158SD, operated by Shuttle America Inc., as US Airways Express flight 4593, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a baggage cart while parked at Gate E11 at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The two flightcrew members, one flight attendant, and 19 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight which was destined for Toledo International Airport (TOL), Toledo, Ohio. The scheduled passenger flight was to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.
According to the operator, the airplane was parked at the gate, when a baggage cart became disconnected from the tug which was towing it, and impacted the left side of the fuselage. Substantial damage to the airplane included a 23-inch tear in the fuselage, as well as five circumferential structure fractures.
Examination of the tug revealed a broken E-hitch pin where the baggage cart became disconnected. Ground service personnel then examined all tugs and their associated baggage carts to identify any additional faulty gearshift levers. During the inspection, one additional tug was identified as having a broken pin. The pin was replaced, and the vehicle was returned to service.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N158SD
- Reported as
- Saab-Scania 340A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 340A-158
- Engine
- General Electric CT7-5A2, 1,735 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Shuttle America, doing business as US Airwarys Express
- Registered owner
- Banc of America Leasing & Capital LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- PIT · Pittsburgh, PA
- Destination
- TOL · Toledo, OH
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- PIT · Pittsburgh Int'l Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,339 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.37 inHg
- Observed at
- PIT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.