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September 21, 2003 · De Havilland DH-8-202 · N455YV

Phoenix, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 21, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (32 uninjured)
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Aircraft
De Havilland DH-8-202
Tail Number
N455YV
Operator
Mesa Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX03LA295

On push back from the gate, the airplane collided with a parked and unoccupied Bombardier CL-65. The elevator of the CL-65 sliced through the rudder of deHavilland. A ground agent was pushing the deHavilland from the gate and did not clear the 30-foot turn line. He then pushed the tail into the CL-65; as a result, the elevator of the CL-65 sliced through the rudder of the deHavilland. The operator felt the accident could have been prevented if the ground agent would have watched his wing walkers during the push back and cleared the turn line, prior to turning the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

the ground agent's inadequate visual lookout during push back, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance between the airplanes.

Full Narrative

On September 21, 2003, about 1610 mountain standard time, a deHavilland DH-8-202, N455YV, struck a parked and unoccupied Bombardier CL-65 airplane, N7358, when ground personnel were pushing the deHavilland for departure at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. The elevator of the Bombardier sliced through the rudder of deHavilland. The deHavilland sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot, commercial co-pilot, 1 flight attendant, and 29 passengers on the deHavilland were not injured. Mesa Airlines, Inc., d.b.a. America West Express, was operating the flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled domestic passenger cross-country flight that was destined for Yuma MCAS-Yuma International (YUM), Yuma, Arizona, with a 1605 departure. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The operator reported in a written statement that a ground agent was pushing the deHavilland from the gate and did not clear the 30-foot turn line. The ground agent then pushed the tail into the Bombardier; as a result, the elevator of the Bombardier sliced through the rudder of the deHavilland. The operator felt the accident could have been prevented if the ground agent would have watched his wing walkers during the push back and cleared the turn line, prior to turning the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:10 MST
Nearest AirportPhoenix Sky Harbor (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DH-8-202
Tail NumberN455YV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMesa Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PW123D · Turboprop

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (32 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured32
Total32
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class
Crew 2Age 26 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data