Cincinnati/North Kentucky Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covington, Kentucky 45275
Monday, March 9, 1998 23:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was standing second in line to be de-iced with position and anti-collision lights illuminated, when it was struck from behind by a baggage tug. The tug impacted the trailing edge of the left wing in the vicinity of the left wing tip. The tug driver 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 a company training manual, '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.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The driver's operation of a ground vehicle at night with an inoperative windshield wiper and an obscured windscreen against company regulations which resulted in a collision with a parked aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2345
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City COVINGTON
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45275
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CINCINNATI/NORTH KENTUCKY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CVG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 897
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2354 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CVG
Elevation of weather observation facility 897
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 15
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 979
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 11 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N937CA
NTSB Number IAD98LA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Canadair
Aircraft Model CL600-2B19
Aircraft Series Identifier CL600-2B19
Aircraft Serial Number 7044
Certified Max Gross Weight 49161
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 53
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 9 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8862
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COMAIR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 75021
Aircraft Owner City CINCINNATI
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45275
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code COMA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CVG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TYS
Destination City KNOXVILLE
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --