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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: IAD98LA036 Aircraft Registration Number: N937CA

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 03/09/1998 Most Critical Injury: Minor

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident Investigated By: NTSB

Location/Time
Nearest City/Place State Zip Code Local Time Time Zone
COVINGTON KY 45275 2345 EST

Airport Proximity: On Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility:

Aircraft Information Summary

Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft

Canadair CL600-2B19 /CL600-2B19 Airplane

Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Air Medical Transport Flight: No

Narrative
Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident:
On March 9, 1998, at 2345 eastern standard time, a Canadair CL-600-2B19, N937CA, owned and
operated by Comair Inc., was substantially damaged when it was struck by a baggage tug while
standing at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG), Covington, Kentucky. The 2 flight
crewmembers and 13 passengers were not injured. A cabin attendant on the airplane and two tug
occupants received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled
passenger flight that originated at CVG, approximately 2330. An instrument flight rules flight
plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121.

The airplane was standing second in line to be de-iced with position and anti-collision lights
illuminated. In a written statement, the Captain said:

"We came to a stop, and after approximately 2 minutes...felt a strong jolt and the nose of the
aircraft was pushed sideways about 8 feet. I looked out and could see a baggage tug impaled on our
left wing tip."

In a written statement, the tug driver, who was employed by Comair Inc., said he completed two
trips past the de-ice pad prior to the collision. Each time the tug was sprayed with de-ice
solution (glycol), obscuring the windshield. When the driver attempted to clear his view with the
windshield wiper after the first trip, the wiper broke off. He said, "I couldn't see anything
because of the glycol...I was on the ramp road. I couldn't see out the tug [and] never seen the
aircraft. I ran into the wing."

Examination of the tug by airport police and company mechanics revealed the wiper was no longer
installed. The lights and brakes were operational.

According to the Comair Customer Services Training Manual Ramp Safety Rules: "SAFETY IS ALWAYS #1
(Never allow yourself or others to make you take short cuts)...A six foot clearance must be
maintained between ground equipment and aircraft at all times. A 10 foot clearance must be
maintained during inclement weather (snow, rain, ice, etc.). If you have any doubt, stop!...Never
operate ground service equipment that is not functioning properly or in need of repair.
Immediately report any vehicle in this condition to a supervisor so that corrective action can be
taken."

Weather reported at the time of the accident was measured ceiling 2,300 overcast with snow. Winds
were from 310 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 22 knots.

FACTUAL REPORT - AVIATION Page 1

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NTSB ID: IAD98LA036

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 03/09/1998

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Landing Facility/Approach Information

Airport Name Airport ID: Airport Elevation Runway Used Runway Length Runway Width
CINCINNATI/NORTH KENTUCKY CVG 897 Ft. MSL 0

Runway Surface Type: Concrete

Runway Surface Condition: Wet

Approach/Arrival Flown: NONE

VFR Approach/Landing: None

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Serial Number
Canadair CL600-2B19 /CL600-2B19 7044

Airworthiness Certificate(s): Transport

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle

Amateur Built Acft? No Number of Seats: 53 Certified Max Gross Wt. 49161 LBS Number of Engines: 2
Engine Type: Engine Manufacturer: Model/Series: Rated Power:
Turbo Fan GE CF-34 9140 LBS
- Aircraft Inspection Information
Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time

Continuous Airworthiness 03/1998 Hours 8862 Hours

- Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information

ELT Installed?/Type Yes / ELT Operated? No ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site?

Owner/Operator Information
Registered Aircraft Owner Street Address
P.O. BOX 75021
COMAIR INC City State Zip Code
CINCINNATI OH 45275
Street Address
Operator of Aircraft P.O. BOX 75021
City State Zip Code
COMAIR INC
CINCINNATI OH 45275
Operator Does Business As: DELTA CONNECTION Operator Designator Code: COMA
- Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held: None
Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s):

Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate:

Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air Carrier

Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Unknown;Scheduled; Domestic; Passenger Only

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: IAD98LA036

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 03/09/1998

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

First Pilot Information

Name City State Date of Birth Age

On File On File On File On File 45

Sex: M Seat Occupied: Left Occupational Pilot? Civilian Pilot Certificate Number: On File

Certificate(s): Airline Transport

Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land

Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: None

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Instructor Rating(s): None

Current Biennial Flight Review?

Medical Cert.: Class 1 Medical Cert. Status: Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim. Date of Last Medical Exam: 02/1998

This Make Airplane Airplane Instrument Lighter

All A/C
- Flight Time Matrix and Model Single Engine Mult-Engine
Night
Actual Simulated
Rotorcraft Glider
Than Air

Total Time 168

Pilot In Command(PIC) 120
Instructor

Instruction Received

Last 90 Days 119

Last 30 Days 70
Last 24 Hours 3
Seatbelt Used? Yes Shoulder Harness Used? Yes Toxicology Performed? No Second Pilot? Yes

Flight Plan/Itinerary
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point State Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone

Same as Accident/Incident Location CVG 0000

Destination State Airport Identifier

KNOXVILLE TN TYS

Type of Clearance: None

Type of Airspace: Class D

Weather Information
Source of Wx Information:

Flight Service Station

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National Transportation Safety Board NTSB ID: IAD98LA036

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 03/09/1998

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Weather Information
WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site

CVG 2354 EST 897 Ft. MSL 0 NM 0 Deg. Mag.

Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 0 Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Night/Dark

Lowest Ceiling: Overcast 2300 Ft. AGL Visibility: 9 SM Altimeter: 29.00 "Hg

Temperature: -3 ° C Dew Point: -6 ° C Weather Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Wind Direction: 310 Wind Speed: 17 Wind Gusts: 22

Visibility (RVR): 0 Ft. Visibility (RVV) 0 SM

Precip and/or Obscuration:

Accident Information
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Aircraft Fire: None Aircraft Explosion None

- Injury Summary Matrix Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL

First Pilot 1 1
Second Pilot 1 1
Student Pilot

Flight Instructor

Check Pilot

Flight Engineer

Cabin Attendants 1 1
Other Crew

Passengers 13 13
- TOTAL ABOARD - 1 15 16
Other Ground 0 0 2 2
- GRAND TOTAL - 0 0 3 15 18

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NTSB ID: IAD98LA036

National Transportation Safety Board

FACTUAL REPORT Occurrence Date: 03/09/1998

AVIATION Occurrence Type: Accident

Administrative Information
Investigator-In-Charge (IIC)
BRIAN C. RAYNER

Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation:

JOHN W OUSLEY
LOUISVILLE, KY

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