# NTSB NYC04LA099: Beech 1900D, N149CJ, Windsor Locks, CT, April 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 2004, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Windsor Locks, CT - Coordinates: 41.938888, -72.683052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9389&lon=-72.6831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 16 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58988 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58988/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA099 ## Probable cause The fuel truck driver's failure to maintain clearance with a taxiing airplane, resulting in the collision between the fuel truck and the airplane. A factor in the accident was the night condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis After landing, and while taxiing to the ramp at night, the airplane's left engine and fuselage was struck by a fuel truck. Witness statements did not reveal headlights illuminated on the fuel truck. Weather at the time of the accident included light rain and mist with 2 miles visibility. The Airport Ramp Rules and Regulations, stated in part: "All vehicles shall always relinquish right-of-way to any aircraft moving under its own power or under tow, except emergency conditions," and "all vehicles will have lights on during the hours between dusk and dawn and during periods of low visibility." ## Factual narrative On April 1, 2004, at 1830 eastern standard time, a Beech 1900D, N149CJ, operated by Colgan Air Inc., as U.S. Airways Express flight 4997, was substantially damaged when it collided with a fuel truck while taxiing at Bradley International Airport (BDL), Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The certificated airline transport pilot (captain), first officer, and 14 passengers were uninjured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan between Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York, and Windsor Locks. The scheduled passenger flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. According to a written statement provided by the captain, the flight landed on runway 24, and was cleared to taxi to the ramp. As the airplane entered the ramp area, the flight crew planned to stop beyond the hold-short line, to wait for another airplane to exit gate 25. As the flight crew crossed the hold-short line, and were almost at a complete stop, they felt a "buffet," which became a "large jolt," on the left side of the fuselage. After realizing a fuel truck impacted the left engine and propeller, the captain shut down the engines, and evacuated the passengers from the right window emergency exit. The captain stated that the taxi lights, flood lights, navigation lights, and beacon were illuminated while taxiing. The fuel truck driver reported in a written statement that he was traveling on the ramp from gate 11 to gate 25, to fuel the inbound Colgan Air flight. As he was traveling within the "marked roadway," he suddenly observed a red light. Realizing it was a wing light, he slammed on the brakes, and the airplane's engine impacted the right side of the truck cab. According to a written statement provided by a passenger, as the airplane was taxiing to the terminal, he looked to the left and noticed a fuel truck headed into the airplane's path. The passenger stated that the fuel truck did not have any headlights or strobe lights illuminated, and estimated it was traveling about 15 mph. The truck disappeared from view briefly, and then collided with the front left side of the airplane. A second aircraft refueler observed the accident fueling truck driving northbound on the ramp roadway. The refueler did not observe any lights on the refueling truck. Weather reported at BDL, at 1819, included winds from 020 degrees at 10 knots, 2 miles visibility, with light rain and mist. The Bradley International Airport, Ramp Rules and Regulations, Section II, Vehicle Operations, stated in part: "All vehicles shall always relinquish right-of-way to any aircraft moving under its own power or under tow, except emergency conditions." The regulations also stated that, "all vehicles will have lights on during the hours between dusk and dawn and during periods of low visibility." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N149CJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N149CJ-2004-10-21), registration cancelled 2004-10-21, S/N UE-49, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 1900D - Registry model: [Beech 1900D](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900d) (registry code 1154162) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-6-series) (registry code 52150, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UE-49 - Airframe hours: 18134.6 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67D 1214 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67D 1214 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Colgan Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 23, 2004, 37.8 hours before - Departed: SYR, Syracuse, NY - Destination: BDL, Windsor Locks, CT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BDL, Bradley International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 4, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,427 total, 1,090 in this make and model, 2,308 as pilot in command, 171 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 18, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 847 total, 191 in this make and model, 290 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: BDL ## 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 20040401005249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040401005249A), Apr 1, 2004: Beech 1900D, Windsor Locks, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) A collision occurred between a fuel truck and cjc 1449 while the aircraft was taxiing to the gate. The fuel truck struck the left engine nacelle and… 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.