National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 1/3/2011 2:56:44 PM

Washington, DC 20594

Brief of Accident

Adopted 10/09/2001

CHI01LA066
File No. 10653 01/08/2001 Detroit, MI Aircraft Reg No. N784CA Time (Local): 14:30 EST

Make/Model: Bombardier / CL-600-2B19 Fatal Serious Minor/None

Engine Make/Model: Ge / CF34 Crew 0 0 3
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Pass 0 0 30
Number of Engines: 2
Operating Certificate(s): Flag Carrier/Domestic
Name of Carrier: COMAIR INC
Type of Flight Operation: Scheduled; Domestic; Passenger Only
Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air Carrier

Last Depart. Point: Same as Accident/Incident Location Condition of Light: Day

Destination: COVINGTON, KY Weather Info Src: Weather Observation Facility
Airport Proximity: On Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Visual Conditions
Airport Name: DETROIT METROPOLITAN WAYNE CO. Lowest Ceiling: None
Runway Identification: Unk/Nr Visibility: 10.00 SM
Runway Length/Width (Ft): Unk/Nr Wind Dir/Speed: 340 / 009 Kts
Runway Surface: Unknown Temperature (°C): -6
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown Precip/Obscuration:

Pilot-in-Command Age: 55 Flight Time (Hours)

Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: Unk/Nr

Airline Transport; Multi-engine Land Last 90 Days: Unk/Nr
Total Make/Model: Unk/Nr
Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: UnK/Nr
Airplane

An unoccupied van rolled backward and impacted the left side of the airplane causing damage. An airport police report stated, "I [the
investigating police officer] interviewed the driver [of the van] who stated that the vehicle had been parked about twenty yards in front
of the aircraft for about two minutes before the incident. The driver [of the van] stated that he went to check oil fittings and does
not know how the vehicle struck the aircraft." The reported stated that the captain of the aircraft was interviewed and, "...He [the
captain of the aircraft] observed the vehicle drive towards and then strike the aircraft moving the aircraft sideways approx.
[approximately] 10 inches." Post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van failed to reveal any anomalies that would prevent the
normal operation of the vehicle, specifically the parking brake, the column shifter, and the parking gear.
 Brief of Accident (Continued)

CHI01LA066
File No. 10653 01/08/2001 Detroit, MI Aircraft Reg No. N784CA Time (Local): 14:30 EST

Occurrence #1: ON GROUND/WATER COLLISION WITH OBJECT

Phase of Operation: STANDING - ENGINE(S) NOT OPERATING

Findings
1. (F) OBJECT - VEHICLE
2. (C) MISCELLANEOUS - INADVERTENT - DRIVER OF VEHICLE

Findings Legend: (C) = Cause, (F) = Factor

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The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
The vehicle driver's inadvertent failure to place the column shifter into the parking gear. A factor to the accident was the vehicle.