National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 1/26/2011 1:14:59 PM

Washington, DC 20594

Brief of Accident

Adopted 12/28/2004

NYC04LA042
File No. 17043 12/02/2003 Jamaica, NY Aircraft Reg No. N916CA Time (Local): 16:45 EST

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

Engine Make/Model: General Electric / CF34-3A1 Crew 0 0 3
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Pass 0 0 42
Number of Engines: 2
Operating Certificate(s): Flag Carrier/Domestic
Name of Carrier: COMAIR INC
Type of Flight Operation: Scheduled; Domestic; Passenger/Cargo
Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air Carrier

Last Depart. Point: Pittsburgh, PA Condition of Light: Day

Destination: Same as Accident/Incident Location Weather Info Src: Weather Observation Facility
Airport Proximity: On Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Visual Conditions
Airport Name: John F. Kennedy Int'l Lowest Ceiling: None
Runway Identification: NA Visibility: 10.00 SM
Runway Length/Width (Ft): Unk/Nr Wind Dir/Speed: 310 / 025 Kts
Runway Surface: Unknown Temperature (°C): -2
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown Precip/Obscuration:

Pilot-in-Command Age: 31 Flight Time (Hours)

Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: 4537

Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Last 90 Days: 90
Total Make/Model: 2403
Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: 633
Airplane

The airplane was parked, and in the process of deplaning passengers when it was struck by an unoccupied belt loader. The driver of the
belt loader stated that she was maneuvering the belt loader when she fell off due to the gusty wind conditions. The airplane was parked
in a confined area of the ramp, which would have required tight turns to maneuver the belt loader. The belt loader was equipped with an
operational seat belt. The operator did not require that seat belts be utilized when operating belt loaders. Winds reported at the
airport, about the time of the accident were sustained at 25 knots, with 30 knot gusts.
 Brief of Accident (Continued)

NYC04LA042
File No. 17043 12/02/2003 Jamaica, NY Aircraft Reg No. N916CA Time (Local): 16:45 EST

Occurrence #1: MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER

Phase of Operation: STANDING

Findings
1. (F) WEATHER CONDITION - GUSTS
2. (C) MISCELLANEOUS - INADVERTENT - DRIVER OF VEHICLE
3. (F) PROCEDURE INADEQUATE - COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT

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.
An encounter with an unoccupied belt loader, after the belt loader driver inadvertently fell to the ground while maneuvering. Factors in
this accident were the gusty wind conditions and the failure of the operator to require that persons operating belt loaders use seat
belts.