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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 15, 1997 · Beech 1900D · N162ZV

Pittsburgh, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 15, 1997
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 14 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft
Beech 1900D
Tail Number
N162ZV
Operator
Usair Express
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC98LA013

The First Officer was taxiing the airplane to the gate after landing. The airplane was traveling south on a taxiway when the Captain noticed a baggage tug approaching on an access road perpendicular to the taxiway from the left, traveling west. The Captain applied the brakes to stop the airplane; however, the tug continued and collided with the airplane's left wing. The tug driver said he may have lost consciousness after striking a bump in the access road. The police reported the bump was at the point where the access road intersected the taxiway, and the intersection was controlled by a stop sign on the access road. The Police Officer issued a citation to the tug driver for violation of a county ordinance, which stated, 'Aircraft always have the right-of-way in the AOA. Vehicles needing to traverse an AOA ramp shall...obey all posted signage.'

NTSB Probable Cause

the tug driver's failure to obey a stop sign and his failure to yield right-of-way to the airplane.

Full Narrative

On October 15, 1997, at 0700 eastern daylight time, a Beech 1900D, N162ZV, operated by Mesa Airlines, Inc., and doing business as USAir Express, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a moving baggage tug, while taxiing at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The vehicle rolled over and the driver sustained minor injuries. The 2 certificated airline transport pilots and 12 passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled passenger flight that originated at Youngstown, Ohio, at 0635. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. The Captain reported in a written statement that the First Officer was taxiing the airplane to the gate after landing. The airplane was traveling south on a taxiway when the Captain noticed the baggage tug approaching on an access road from the left, traveling west. The Captain stated: "...I noticed a fast moving vehicle westbound on an access road for bag carts that is perpendicular to the "Y" taxiway. I saw that the vehicle was not going to stop and I immediately applied the brakes [to] stop the aircraft. The bag truck collided with the left wing." The First Officer stated he was alerted by the Captain, but never saw the vehicle. According to the Allegheny County Police report, the baggage truck driver said he may have lost consciousness after striking a bump in the access road. The driver stated, "...the tugs have no suspension on them. When I hit the bump, I bounced...All that I remember seeing was a wing then rolling over." The report also stated the bump was at the point where the access road intersected the taxiway, and the intersection was controlled by a stop sign on the access road. The Police Officer reported issuing a citation to the tug driver for violation of Allegheny County Ordinance Four. Section Three. Subsection E, Air Operations Area (AOA), which stated: "Aircraft always have the right-of-way in the AOA. Vehicles needing to traverse an AOA ramp shall...obey all posted signage."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:00 EDT
Nearest AirportPittsburgh International (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 1900D
Tail NumberN162ZV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUsair Express
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A · Turboprop
Seats21

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 14 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured14
Total16
Crew 1Age 41 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind290° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data