# NTSB NYC96LA150: Saab-Scania 340A, N744BA, Providence, RI, July 11, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1996, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Providence, RI
- Location: 41.7223° N, 71.4277° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at RHODE ISLAND TF GREEN INTL (PVD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7223&lon=-71.4277&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 21 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA150

## Probable cause

the passenger inadvertently lost his balance and fell, while deplaning.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

The operator stated the following:  'As passengers deplaned at Providence, [a passenger] appeared to lose his balance as he started down the aircraft stairs.  As he fell, he turned to grab the hand rail.  A passenger service agent located at the bottom of the stairs tried to catch him as he fell.  [The passenger] ended up at the bottom of the aircraft stairs on his back.  Airport emergency service [attended the passenger's] injuries, and he was transported to the hospital.'

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 1996, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Saab SF340A, N744BA, operated by Business Express Airlines Inc., as flight number 4772, was deplaning when a passenger fell from the steps and received serious injuries.    The scheduled, commuter air carrier, passenger flight departed La Guardia Airport, New York, destined for Theodore Francis Green State Airport, Providence, Rhode Island.  An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.

In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the operator stated:

"As passengers deplaned at Providence, [a passenger] appeared to lose his balance as he started down the aircraft stairs.  As he fell, he turned to grab the hand rail.  A passenger service agent located at the bottom of the stairs tried to catch him as he fell.  [The passenger] ended up at the bottom of the aircraft stairs on his back.  Airport emergency services [attended the passenger's] injuries, and he was transported to the hospital."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N744BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N744BA-2025-02-21), registration cancelled 2025-02-21, S/N 340A-105 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Saab-Scania AB (Saab) 340A
- Registry model: [Saab-Scania SF340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/saab-scania-sf340a) (registry code 7860100) (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: 340A-105
- Airframe hours: 18159
- Engines: GE CT7-5A2 1735 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Business Express Airlines
- Registered owner: Banciireland Airplane Lease In
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 3, 1996, 79 hours before
- Departed: LGA, NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: PVD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PVD, Theodore Francis Green St

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19960711046129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960711046129A), Jul 11, 1996: Saab SF340A, Providence, RI, No damage. (-23) While the elderly passenger was exiting the aircraft he stopped on the top step and turned around, lost his balance and fell to the ground causing…

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.

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